While I was a student in Bible college I had the opportunity to serve in a ministry to inner-city children. We spent time learning Bible stories, playing games and singing songs. One of their favorite choruses was "Soon and very soon we are going to see the King." It was a great little chorus that reminded us of the simple reality that life is brief. Very soon this temporary life could be over, and we could be ushered into the presence of God. It is a reality we all accept, but many days we don't give it a second thought. The thought that this may be the last day of our earthly life is upsetting to us. It really shouldn't be that way, in fact the Bible teaches us that it is wise to remember often the shortness of our life. A faithful man of God of a previous century named Jonathan Edwards practiced this wisdom. He wrote a list of 70 life resolutions. These were things he resolved to keep as high priorities throughout His life. In resolution #9 he resolved to "Think much, on all occasions, of my dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death." That sounds a bit depressing, but it is the very thing the writer of Ecclesiastes tells us: "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart." (Ecc. 7:2) It is better to attend a funeral than a party? Absolutely. It is certainly not easier, but it is better. We must keep in sight the inevitable - and perhaps very near - end of our life. It reminds us of what is really important. It teaches us to reconsider how to spend the remainder of our day. It reminds us that "soon and very soon we are going to see the King."
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