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3/2/1996
"For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14). A nearby railroad crossing near our home has a red triangular sign with 3-2-96 on it. Often it had caught my attention and for some time I guessed at its significance. Recently a friend told me what had happened. A man, his wife, and children were killed at that railroad crossing. They were on their way to "Sunday School". A number of thoughts came to my mind. How could the parents and grandparents continue and go on with living? The answer to that question is, they simply have no choice. We have to continue to live and realize tragedies occur and we can do nothing after they have happened. We must have the attitude of Job. In one brief day he lost all his livestock, his servants, and most importantly of all, his children (Job 1:13-19). Job’s response can be read, Job 1:21"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." If a loved one dies we must carry on. At most funerals I try to encourage the family to live their lives so as to go to heaven. If their loved one is judged faithful by God and enters heaven then in order to see them again they must be faithful to God and go to heaven. A second thought came to mind. One day all of humanity will stand before God in judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). I do not presume to know exactly how this will occur, but I do know each deed committed will be remembered. Each sin recorded unless washed away by the blood of Christ, Acts 22:16. What if the dates of those sins were also recorded? 5-21-57 may represent the date of one’s birth or one’s wedding. Let me introduce some dates that may have meaning to different people. As one man stands before God, he may see the date 2-3-73. This man died a drunkard. He lived the greater part of his life with only one goal, to get another drink of alcohol. At the time of his death he was homeless and helpless. His clothes were old and dirty and matched his hair. Yes, a sign with the date 2-3-73 could be the testimony to the power of alcohol. A woman who died a prostitute may notice the date 10-12-65. This was the day when she was first introduced to drugs and pornography. She was not born a prostitute and as a young child she had no idea that such a sin existed. Yet she learned that men would pay money for the use of her body. She also learned to wear revealing clothing so as to attract the attention of men. She may have died as the result of her lifestyle and sin. Another man may have the date 12-31-82. This was the day when this man committed adultery. He had been faithful to his wife, but while at a New Year’s party he gave in to temptation. Later on this man left his wife and married another woman. He lived the rest of his life in an unscriptural marriage. One person may see the date 4-10-00. This was the day when he/she decided to not worship God any longer. They had obeyed the gospel earlier in their life, but grew lukewarm in their commitment to God. Other things just seemed more important. Rearing their children, going to work, recreation, going hunting were all more important than going to "church". They had always planned on getting "back in church" but never got around to it. Now they were being judged as unfaithful to God. Lastly, one person may see the date 6-4-87. This was the day he/she had obeyed the gospel. They had lived their life trying to do what God commanded. They had at times stumbled and sinned against God. At such times they would turn to God and ask for His forgiveness. God had forgiven those sins and their corresponding dates. Like many others they had received the grace and mercy of God and now were being told to enter the narrow gate which leads to heaven, Matthew 7:13-14. The list of important dates for each one of us is almost endless. They do exist and God knows all of those dates. He understands the choices we made and the trials we endured. He also knows some other important dates. The date that goes on our tombstone and the Day of Judgment will be two very important dates. If we are really ready to die, then we will look forward with hope to the Day of Judgment. D.T. |