When they got out of bed that morning, none knew their lives would end that day.
The Pentagon Memorial commemorates the 184 people who were killed on American Airlines Flight 77 and inside the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Small illuminated concrete benches—representing each of the victims, are arranged so that reading a Pentagon victim’s name requires facing the Pentagon while reading a plane victim’s name requires facing the direction the plane was traveling.
Regardless of their ages or life circumstances, none of the victims expected terrorists to board their plane and direct it into the side of the Pentagon. Nor did those working in the Pentagon expect a plane to enter their building.
Morning fogs generally only hang around until the sun burns them away. My wife and I once flew out of August, Georgia, on our way to see friends in Denver, Colorado. Our flight was delayed because of a thick layer of fog blanketing the area. Though it seemed as if we waited forever, we were only delayed one hour.
Life is like a fog. It doesn’t hang around long. Even if I’m one of the fortunate ones who lives into my nineties, my life is comparatively brief. What I need to do, I need to do now. The most important thing is to trust Christ as my Savior. But there are other things I don’t need to put off. Deciding to trust Christ will assure me of heaven, but I may be on earth for quite some time, so there are other decisions that affect my future here.
When Jesus said He came to give abundant life, He wasn’t talking about life in heaven but rather life lived on earth. Obeying God’s commands and making serving Christ the centerpiece of my life will usher in a type of existence that everyone is searching for—but usually in the wrong places.
Spending time on endeavors that will outlast my life just makes sense. I can leave behind articles and devotions on the web. I can leave behind spiritual journals. I can teach honorable trades or a Sunday school class. I can also leave an example that will affect my children, grandchildren, and others. But I only have a brief time to do it. Soon my life will lift like the fog.
Decide to do something that will outlive your brief life.
Prayer: Father, help us live each day with purpose so that when our short lives are over we can die satisfied that we served You and others well.
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