What if today were your last? 

What comes to mind when asked, “What if today were your last?” Some people would try to cram as many pleasurable experiences as possible into their last 24 hours. “I’m going to do what I want!”. Others might prepare their will and other legal documents, relieving their loved ones of some burden and complications post-death. Still others would spend every moment with their loved ones telling and showing their love for them. But what about God—does He enter your mind?

Death is not an end to life but, rather, a change. It is the moment when you and Jesus review your whole life together. The decisions you have made on earth have a lasting impact on eternity, molding you into the person you have become. Your decisions also affect others accordingly. When Jesus return to earth at the end of time, all people living and dead will have the privilege to see the effects their actions have had throughout time.

This Sunday is our first day of Advent, our first day of preparing for the birth of the Christ. It may seem odd that the Gospel given to us in the liturgy is Matthew 24:37-44, Jesus warning of us the last moment of opportunity for the world to follow Him before its final destruction. At the annunciation of Gabriel to Mary of God’s will for her to bear the Christ child, and her fiat, the Second Person of the Trinity became incarnate in her womb taking on a human nature. This began the ‘end times’ which will last until Christ’s second coming. As the word Advent means ‘coming’, preparing for His coming birth is a step in preparing for the paradise He will bring us into when He returns at the end of time.

“We are the blessed who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb; “And these words are true; they come from God” (Revelation 19:9). Will you be prepared? Or, while rushing last minute to make the preparations that should have been done earlier in life, will you miss your Bridegroom when He comes (Matthew 25:1-13)? Will you be wearing the proper wedding garment—a loving heart surrendered to Him (Matthew 22:1-14)?” (Where our hope lies)

In our Gospel reading this Sunday, Jesus warns that mankind was not prepared in the time of Noah. When the flood occurred, the righteous remained (Noah’s family on the ark) and all others were swept away to their death. So too, when He returns again, the righteous one will remain (presumably in the new Heavens and Earth in Revelation 21:1) and the unrighteous swept away. The parallel gospel of Luke 17 tells us their bodies will be swept away to where the vultures gather (v. 37, sometimes translated as eagles). In other words, flesh-eating birds picking away at their corpse. An unnoble ending for unnoble people. So we are to keep our eyes focused on Him and not cling to our attachments as He warns in Luke 17:31.

If today were your last day in this life, then it is your last day to do God’s will. Your last day to serve the purpose He created for you; your part in His harmonic order of creation. Your last mass to assist in. Your last chance to reconcile with everyone God has put in your life. Your last chance to love others face-to-face. At life’s end, love alone remains.

Yes, we are to live each day as if it were our last, but as our last chance to do His will for Him, especially as it brings His love to our family. This last day is your final chance to grow in love of Him and reconcile all the barriers you’ve placed between yourself and Him. Then taking that pure love into your relationships, you can bring them closer to Him too.

My beloved, live each day as if it were your last chance to do My will on earth. Restrain your urge to act rashly or to avoid action altogether. Wait upon My guidance in every situation. Exercise self-denial as I have taught you in My Word. Seek Me, my dear one. Seek My face. By your deeds others will know you belong to Me. (Moments with Jesus)

All for the greater glory of God 😊

(Image by Anna-Louise on Pexels)