Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
Just three days into my seventh grade year, I received some tragic news during morning announcements. One of my closest friends had been diagnosed with leukemia. Two days earlier, my friend mentioned that she had a doctor’s appointment after school because she hadn’t been feeling well all summer. Her energy level had been so depleted that even walking up the stairs was exhausting. I remember thinking how she looked very pale—not at all like the Diane I knew and loved.
For the first time in my life, I suddenly became very aware of my own mortality. Sure, I had experienced bereavement before, but this was my friend—someone my own age. I understood just enough about leukemia to realize how it often ended in death. Tragically, my friend lost her battle with the disease less than three years later.
“What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?” (Psalm 89:48)
As we grow older, death becomes a stark reality. We may feel no different in our spirit than we did twenty years ago, but our bodies speak a different story. Aches, pains, and weight gain are continual reminders that we’re not as young as we used to be.
Time on earth is merely a blink of an eye compared to eternity. As I approach the fifty year mark, in all likelihood, my life is more than half over. That’s a sobering thought!
So, what am I going to do with the remainder of my days here on earth?
I am going to spend them being a vessel that God can pour His love and blessings through. I am going to live each day sharing the message of hope that comes from knowing our Lord Jesus Christ, and I am going to be a light in this dark world.
When my time on earth is finished, and I stare into the eyes of Jesus, I want to hear Him say… “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)
Like my friend Diane, we will all one day face our own mortality. But if we have put our faith in Jesus… the end is just the beginning!
