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The story is told of a woman who once asked John Wesley, the eighteenth-century English evangelist, how he would spend his time if he knew he would die at midnight the following night. He responded, “Why, madam, just as I intend to spend it now. I would preach this evening at Gloucester and again at five tomorrow morning. After that, I would ride to Tewkesbury, preach in the afternoon, and meet with the societies in the evening. I would then go to Rev. Martin’s house, who expects to entertain me, talk and pray with the family as usual, retire to my room at ten o’clock, commend myself to my heavenly Father, lie down to rest, and wake up in glory.”
How would you have responded? What if we knew when our last day on earth would be? What would we do differently? Whom would we reach out to? What wrong would we make right? What action would we take that we’ve been putting off? What words would we speak that should have long been spoken?
God’s Word says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). It is wise to consider our own frailty. After all, approximately 150,000 people die worldwide every day. Life has taught us that death comes to ten out of ten. The Bible reminds us, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). It’s not a matter of if we die, but when.
The truth is that life is short. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). When we acknowledge the shortness and uncertainty of this life, it becomes easier to live for the world to come. When our affections are set on things above, we can live with higher purpose and in constant readiness for eternity. When we desire a better country—that is, a heavenly one—we strive to walk worthy in this one.
Jesus lived this way and set the perfect example for us to follow. He told His followers, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me” (John 6:38). His will was aligned with God’s will at all times. He didn’t live with regrets. He didn’t have to frantically adjust His plans. He didn’t live for selfish ambition but steadily walked in obedience to His heavenly Father.
Considering His example and the life to come, what if isn’t the question to ask. Instead, we should ask: What will I do today to please my heavenly Father? What will I say this week to point others to the Lord? And what will this next year look like as I strive to walk in faith and obedience?
Copyright © 2025 by Kimberly Williams @ www.kimberlywilliams.org No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.