Today is the Day

   Two nights ago, I watched the movie Courageous with a bunch of my friends from my floor at school. This night was one of many recent events that God has used to make me think seriously about my life. It challenged my thinking (and living) about the fleeting nature of life, how I am navigating my relationships, and how serious I am about my faith. Psalm 39:4-6 says, "Lord, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah. Surely every man walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; he amasses riches and does not know who will gather them."

Make the most of your time.

   I have done a lot of pondering and honest reflection in my life and keep asking myself, What would Jesus say about my life if it ended today? Would he be pleased with the faith that my life has displayed? Would my relationships bring a smile to his face? Is there any more I can be giving to him right now? It has been really rough trying to answer those questions. I have been so selfish and unforgiving in all of my relationships. The time that I have spent serving him has been so short, and often sporadic. I don't say that all that to throw a pity party. I am just saying that honest reflection about my life has been a difficult thing to do recently. 
   What do you do when you really understand that you don't have much time on this earth? How do you get past the fact that the life you have been given will not be here much longer?
   Carpe Diem. Seize the Day.
   Today is the day! You are not guaranteed another. My mom always says, "You would be surprised how much you can do in 5 minutes." Maximize your time today. Make the most of it. If you have broken relationships, do not put off reconciliation until tomorrow. If you are feeling dry, don't keep moving your Bible to the bottom of your stack. If you are nervous about something you know you should do, don't keep suppressing it. Pray that God would give you the strength to be courageous. I think you get my point.
   Secondly, think about the future as if you are not guaranteed it. If you knew you only had 2 months to live, how would you live differently? Recently, one of my buddies from my soccer team told us a story about one of his best friends who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer not too long ago. He was given only 2 months to live. You can imagine how much he has rearranged his priorities.
   All I am trying to say is this. You don't know how much more time you have on planet earth. I challenge you to consider how you are making use of one of the most precious gifts you have - your time.