Clay in the Hands

I took a few minutes yesterday to do a little heavy reading.  Most of you know me well enough to know that if I am going to do “heavy” reading, I have to do it in small doses.  One of the books I am working through is by a classic author, Thomas á Kempis, entitled The Imitation of Christ.  The few pages I read dealt with the importance of making our time here on earth count for something.  Here is what he said,

What avails it to live long, when we amend ourselves so little!  Alas, length of days does not always amend us, but often rather increases our fault!  Oh, that we had well spent but one day in this world!  Many there are who count the years of their life in religion; and yet slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment.

The way I interpret this little passage is that we often approach life as if we have many more opportunities to make a difference – many more days to live for Jesus – many more years to serve God.  So the result is that we tend to put off until tomorrow those things that oftentimes would make a huge impact in someone else’s life today.

á Kempis reminds us that not one of us is guaranteed a tomorrow.  By waiting until tomorrow, we often add to our own demise.

If you knew that you only had 3 days to live, what would today look like?  What would you do today if you knew you would not be here on Friday?  Who would you call?  Who would you help?

The challenge for today is simple – live as if today was your last chance to make a difference!

“Oh, that we had well spent but one day in this world!”