If you live 80 full years, you will live 29,200 days. Some days pass by slowly and others like the blink of an eye. Some days you want to end and some days you want to last forever. Those days may include weddings and funerals, celebrations and consolation, the best and worst of times. But of all the days in your life, there are five that are the most important.
First Day: When You Were Born
You were given an eternal soul at conception and the day of your birth started your journey outside of your mother’s womb. Though you were defenseless and helpless, you would grow and become more independent. Of the billions of people who have lived on this Earth for many thousands of years you were unique and there will be no one, even a twin or your child, who will be exactly like you.
Second Day: When You Realized Why
Dr. Kevin Elko cited these first two days as being so important. At some point in life you have or will wonder why you are here or what is your purpose in life. You have unique talents and abilities and the opportunity to do good or harm with your actions. Sometimes we ask in sadness, perhaps feeling rejected and worthless, wondering why we are alive and doubting that it is for a good reason. Such is the voice of depression and we should ignore it.
But why are we here? I don’t think that God has a detailed plan for our life that we must discover through vague feelings and events in our lives. God does have a big plan for us: Titus 2:11-14. God created us to glorify Him as He blesses us as His children. He gives us the choice of how we want to live that life, Ecclesiastes 11:8-10; 12:131-14.
So what do you want to accomplish in your life? How do you want to use your talents to live a life that makes the world a better place and glorifies God? When you find that answer, it will be the second greatest day in your life.
Third Day: When You Take Ownership of Your Life
What does it mean to take ownership? When you buy a car and have paid the full amount you are given a title of ownership which indicates you have control over it. You can choose to sell it, paint it with polka dots, modify it, beat it with a sledgehammer, or anything else that is not illegal. You are responsible for taking care of it and repairing any damage that is your fault. As owner, you have control over it.
God has given us ownership of our lives in that we are responsible for the consequences of our actions. As God, He maintains ownership of His creation but requires us to be good stewards, or caretakers, of our lives and the opportunities we are given. Ecclesiastes 11:9 and 12:14 reminds us that God wants us to enjoy life but with an eye towards judgment. Romans 2:1-11 teaches that our actions on earth will influence our eternal destiny. Hebrews 9:27 also reminds us of the individual judgment of each person. God will not judge us by our parents or grandparents faithfulness or wickedness.
Each of us will face God to give an accounting for how we’ve lived and receive judgment from Him. The accounting should remind us of the parables of stewardship, such as the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 24:14-30, where the master gave the servants money (a talent was a measure of money) and expected them to do good things with it when he was away. He came back to judge how they used the money in his service. The master rewarded those who used the talents in a positive way . The master punished the man who did nothing with his talent. Consider how we are to give an accounting to our master on Judgment Day based on how we have used the abilities and opportunities God gave us:
- Romans 14:11-13: Each of us will give an accounting to God
- Hebrews 4:12-14: All things in our life will be laid open before God but his word can help us prepare for that accounting
- Matthew 12:36: We will give account for every idle, or casual, word
- 1 Peter 4:1-6: The wicked will give an account of their wasted life and be punished
When we take ownership of our actions and realize that when we do right or wrong there is no one responsible but ourselves, we will grow in maturity and realize the control God has given us over our eternal destiny. Some people live their lives blaming other people and events for all that is going on in their lives. We cannot control the events or what other people do, but we can choose how we will react to it and what impact it will make in our lives. Some people have been through evil at the hands of others or terrible personal problems out of their control yet became stronger and closer to God as a result. It is up to us.
Fourth Day: When You Become God’s Child
When we realize that God has given us a life to enjoy yet with an eye towards judgment and that we are responsible for our lives, the next day should come naturally: the day we become God’s child. In Acts 2:36-38, those who called for Jesus’ death realized, at Peter’s preaching, that He was the Son of God and wanted forgiveness. Peter told them to believe and be baptized, or immersed, to receive forgiveness of sins. Galatians 3:26-27 says that we become the children of God through faith and put on Christ in baptism. The day we realize that we are responsible for our relationship with God and dedicate our life to Him by becoming His child, is the greatest of the five days we are discussing.
Day Five: Day of Judgment
The song “There’s A Great Day Coming” describes the greatness in magnitude of the Day of Judgment. It describes the happy day for the children of God who go on to their reward and the sad day when those who reject God go into punishment, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10; Hebrews 10:26-31; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:11-15. As Hebrews 9:27 points out, we all have that appointment.
God’s children must prepare now for that day. God’s word, as described earlier, can help us see ourselves as God sees us. We can see the good things that we must continue and the bad things we need to eliminate. Attention to God’s word can help us prepare for a favorable judgment, 2 Timothy 2:15. Paul further tells Timothy that God’s word is completely sufficient to equip him for all he needs to know and do to please God, 2 Timothy 3:13-17. Though God will judge our deeds, Ephesians 2:4-10 reminds us that we are saved through grace. If we rebel against God and are disobedient, we lose access to that grace (Hebrews 10:26-31).
Let us live every day to the glory of God, zealous for good works done to His honor and praise, and enjoy the life God has given us. Then every day will be a blessed day in God’s presence.
Godly Youth 