Faced with Mortality: What Shall We Do?

The only certain things in this life are death, or mortality, and change. Mortality is a commonality that all of humanity must face. One minute we were all busy, very busy, too busy for most of us. We had plans, many plans. Goals, timelines, things to do... like yesterday in a manner of speaking. But it’s all come to a standstill. We are not the masters of our own fate. There is One Greater. In times of trial we stand and realize that God is in control. We thought we were making things happen, but we were not. God was allowing us, by His grace to move and accomplish. Never before in our lifetime have these words been so true for all of us:

Related Post: Who's In Control

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ~ James 4:13-15 NIV

We forgot that we are foreigners passing through this life to get to our heavenly home.

We have become like worldly citizens in our thinking and doing. As foreigners we were supposed to always be thinking of heaven and preparing for the day we would once again be reunited with our heavenly Father. The sweater thought of mortality.

“Dearly beloved, I exhort you as foreigners and pilgrims to be abstaining from fleshly desires which wage-war against the soul” ~ 1 Peter 2:11 NIV

We forgot that we are soldiers on a mission and got caught up in civilian life. The pressures of this life clouded our thoughts and actions. 

“No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs , but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:4

Now we are forced to pause. 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. ~ Psalms 46:10

It’s a time filled with anxiety, fear, and grief. We lift ourselves, our families, and our communities up in prayer, believing that God will hear and answer our prayers. Then we look forward to working out our faith because “faith by itself, without works is dead” (James 2:17). 

The grace of God has given us the opportunity to make sure that we have not abandoned our first love, Christ.

We are beyond blessed to be able to examine our hearts, and avoid going before the Lord empty handed. Our heavenly Father is ever-present, waiting on us to rekindle our love for Him. It’s a miracle that we are chosen in this way. Loved completely even when we have been cold, indifferent, or dismissive. God is gracious and merciful. Let’s forget the ways of the world. They are temporary and unstable. Rather let us remember where we are heading and get ourselves in order. Remove all the heaviness, all that burdens - cast to the Lord. Shedding off all that doesn’t serve the spirit of God within us. We are righteous by the blood of Jesus and the confession of our word. There’s a purpose to our earthly lives. 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~ Ephesians 2:10

As we refresh our minds and souls, let’s get ready to get to our work. Mortality numbers our days. Time is running out. We don’t want to go before the Lord empty handed. Let’s glorify His name while we have breath.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” ~ Psalm 90 : 12 

Let us be available to work for the Lord. That’s our greatest work - the contribution that we have been brought here to make. It can never be erased, it will be recorded in heaven. As Isaiah 6: 8 says, Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said , "Here am I. Send me!"