For my younger friends: please take note!
As someone who lived just for the moment, who lived it up in every way imaginable, someone who thought I was invincible, I can safely say: all good things come to an end!
Sometimes it’s a sooner end than you think…
I knew some pretty tough people, but ended up in a coma, as slaves to a drug, locked up or dead. The sad fact is, for most of them – I wouldn’t have a clue what happened to them as I really didn’t care. Sure, everyone talked up ‘mateship’ – but it was just weak, trapped, addicted, lost souls using each other to have ‘fun’.
Sometimes just passing the time, at other times egging each other on and at other times, doing things that were crazy dangerous. Looking back, every memory, every event, every night: shallow, mind melting and body destroying.
Not that I cared: I didn’t care about death. Anything goes, death is unavoidable, imminent even – bring it on. The crazier the better, just don’t leave me alone with my thought!
Seemed so fun, but each stoopid act not only took the occasion victim, and shaved years off those who ‘survived’.
Now, not even making ½ of a hundred, my body is failing rapidly. Those memories and those ‘friends’ so distant they may as well have not happened. But the consequences, the pain, the reactions, the weakness, the injuries, – they won’t stay away.
To think that a book written thousands of years ago could have helped?
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”
Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NLT)
Fact is, I didn’t just ignore my Creator, I convinced myself that He didn’t exist.
Too strong, too cool, too independent, too smart – I didn’t need ‘God’. In fact; ‘F-Him’ – how dare ‘he’ put me through what I went through?
Well I tell you what: Life is not pleasant anymore!
If only I had used the bulk of my energy, bulk of my skills or abilities serving and making known the Creator! But now, right here, despite my current condition, how can I walk with Him, how can I honour Him, how can I serve Him? Right here, right now, what does He want us to do?
Thankfully, me, who I am, and ‘my’ life, is not summed up in this painful bag of bones, or my thoughts, or the results of my actions. My real life, the one that lasts forever, is safe, secure and sure in the hands of the very Creator I ignored.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:27-30 (NLT)
Despite my life and actions being totally against Him, against His people, I am forgiven. And, amazingly, even the wrongs that I have done, the time that we have wasted, will be used for His purpose. Incredible.
Lord, may we let go, recline and relax into Your arms, in to Your care, for good. May we honour while we still have breath. May we rejoice in who You are and what You have done for us. Thank You for turning my worst mistakes into examples of Your love and grace. And please, please, in Your mercy, direct some who read this away from the pain that results in a life against you.
#thankYouJesus