For all the NFL fans out there, tonight is a special night. The first round of the NFL draft is going to take place. In a moment, 32 young men’s lives will forever be changed with the word, “With the __ pick in the 2014 NFL draft, ___________ selects. . .” Can you imagine how your life would change? That is the positive side of change. What about the other side? People in the Midwest and in the South had their lives changed in the blink of an eye as well. The cause for their change was a tornado. It is scary how fast things changed. I just watched a video from a church in Tupelo that took a major hit from a tornado. As I watched the video, I thought to myself this is horrible, and it seems to go on for a very long time. However, in totality it lasted less than 30 seconds. Just like that whether it’s having your name called and walking across a stage or a fierce storm ripping through your town, life can change so quickly. The book of James tells us, “for what is your life, it is a vapor that appears for a short time and then vanishes away.” In that same passage we are told “don’t say today or tomorrow I will go do this and that, for you don’t know what will happen today or tomorrow.” Our plans are always subject to interruption by God’s plan.
Because life can change so quickly, I would encourage you to do two things. First, make sure you are prepared for today to be your last day. The only way that is possible is to accept God’s gift of salvation that has been provided through the blood of Jesus. Secondly, don’t take the people in your life for granted. Life is far too short to hold a grudge or to live with bitterness. I realize people can and often do hurt you, but if you continue to hold on to it, you become the one hurting yourself (the other person has probably moved on). If there is a relationship that has been broken or is on thin ice, don’t put it off any longer, find a way to mend it. Because once the moment is passed, you can never get it back, and you are never the same.
By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him