Why are we waiting?

In 2004, Tim McGraw released a song called, “Live like you were dying.”  I like the song and the message of the song, live each day like it could be your last.  The bridge of the song says, “Like tomorrow was the end, and ya got eternity to think about what to do with it, what should you do with it, what can I do with it, what would I do with it?”  In light of that question, maybe a good question for the Christian today is, “How would you live differently today if you knew Jesus was coming back tonight?” 

You wouldn’t have to worry about getting your financial affairs in order because nobodies’ portfolio would matter in that moment.   You wouldn’t spend the time cleaning house or cleaning out the fridge, mowing the lawn, stopping the mail or canceling your gym membership.   My heart tells me that if we knew this would be our last day before eternity, people would matter most.   

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:1:4 (NIV) Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

I want to take just a moment to look at the word “value” in the third verse.  In the Greek, that word is hēgoumenoi and it refers to coming first in priority such as: "the leading thought" in one's mind, i.e. to esteem (regard highly).  If we knew this was our last day here, the people in our lives would be the leading thought in our mind. 

We would show them more mercy, give them more grace, forgive them quickly and forgive all, ask them for forgiveness that we should have a long time ago, we would hug them like there was no tomorrow, and we would certainly love them like our life depended it.  We would become the person we always wanted to be? 

I am not saying that Jesus is coming back today (I am not saying He isn’t), but why would we want to wait to be the person we always wanted to be until we had very little time to do it.  Let’s begin valuing others above ourselves today, regardless of color, political or religious affiliation, size of checkbook, etc., and just see where that leads us.  Where that leads the church.  Where that leads our nation.  Where that leads our world.  I’ll go first.  I just want you to know…Jesus loves you. 

Pastor Tim