CHALLENGES IN LIVING
TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY
.
Carpe
Diem: Seizing the Moments in Your Life
.
by Tom
Caballes
Seek the
LORD while he may be
found; call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts; let
him return to the LORD, that he may
have compassion on him, and to our
God, for he will abundantly
pardon.
-
Isaiah 55:67
Several months ago I had a car accident. I thanked
God that in spite of the accident, I was safe. But
it shook me for a while, knowing one moment
everything was fine and then suddenly finding this
car speeding in front of me without a time to
stop. What if I was hit by the other car, knowing
that the other car is heavier and bigger than
mine? What if it was my time to go?
I also looked back in my life when I was in grave
danger being hit by a taxi when I was twelve,
nearly being hit by a motorboat while swimming
when I was in my twenties, and when my appendix
burst more than ten years ago and I underwent
emergency surgery.
Most of the times I take life for granted, until
these events come. Now more than ever, I thank God
for this precious one life that He has given me.
How about you in spite of all the challenges you
face now, do you thank God daily for your life? Do
you seize your day for God?
So How Do I Seize the
Moments in My Life?
- We all live on borrowed time. We can only be
rich or happy up to a point in this life, and
then one day we have to leave them behind. The
way to make the most out of this life is to
insure you will have everlasting life with
God. How? By following Jesus with all of your
life, for the rest of your life.
- No matter how young or old you are, you need
to be ready to be ready to go anytime,
anywhere. We are citizens of heaven,
[Philippians 3:20] and that is our real
permanent home. We need not to be attached to
anything in this life money, possessions,
honors, and even includes good relationships.
- Count each day as if it might be your last.
Do not leave any important things
activities, decisions, relationships, etc. for
granted, as if you have all your future is
ahead of you.
- Make sure everything in your life is in
place before the inevitable. Life insurance,
wills, etc. should be ready and updated all
the time so that those who you will leave
behind will know what do when you are gone. It
is wise and loving to make sure that your
loved ones are taken care of when you are
gone.
- If you have anger within, deal with it NOW:
learn to forgive and let go while there is
time. You need to CHOOSE to forgive those who
offended you. Jesus was very clear you ask
forgiveness as you forgive those who sin
against you. You are in clear danger of not
being forgiven if you choose not to forgive.
- Lastly, develop an attitude of gratitude for
each and every day of your life. Life is a
GIFT. God has chosen each and every one of us
to live one life. Thank God for that one life.
You will never have another other than the
one that comes eternal. It will either be a
glorious eternity or a horrible one either
will be beyond compare. After all, eternity is
just a breath, a heartbeat, or an accident
away from reality.
Other Scripture
passages:
- You do not know what tomorrow will bring.
What is your life? You are a mist that appears
for a little while and then vanishes. [James
4:14]
- Besides this you know the time that the hour
has come for you to wake from sleep. For
salvation is nearer to us now than when we
first believed. The night is far gone; the day
is at hand. So then let us cast off the works
of darkness and put on the armor of light.
[Romans 13:11-12]
- Other references: Matthew 18:21-35; 2
Corinthians 4:16-18; Philippians 1:21-23.
For personal reflection or
group sharing
- Have I considered how temporary this life
is? What am I attached with in this life?
- Am I prepared to go anytime? How will
those I leave behind cope when I go?
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Tom Caballes is the National
Senior Administrator and a National
Coordinator of the Lamb
of
God, a community of the Sword of
the Spirit with 7 branches located
throughout New Zealand. Tom also leads
Kairos
New
Zealand, an outreach program for
high school, university, and
post-university aged people.
Tom and his wife Mhel and
their two daughters live in
Wellington, New Zealand.
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