“We’re all born with an expiration date.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 105). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Now you might say, “Bill, that is a horrible thought to focus on heading into my weekend”. And I guess that can be true. But I think it also has great value and motivation.

I have just turned this month 65+1. That is how I am expressing my age now. Because of my age there are some things that are now more important to me. For one is the amount of sleep that I have. I don’t stay up as late as I used to so I can I get up earlier the next day. I want to experience as much as I can each day, to accomplish as much as I can each day, and to enjoy as much as I can each day. I seem to value what opportunities I have more than I did when I was younger. I really value each minute of my day. I don’t want to waste it by sleeping.

I also want to make sure of my preparation for what the next phase of life will be or I should say where our existence will have no expiration day. How I live here on this phase will determine where I will experience that eternal phase of my existence.

The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 (MSG), “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences.” That is something to come to grips with. There will be consequences for how I live. But the next verse says, “Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever.” He paid the price for my sins through His death. That is a tremendous gift. But I need to accept it to reap the benefit of eternal life from His gift by confessing my sins to Him and then living for Him.

The realization of an expiration date no matter when that is does not need to be a negative. It can be a tremendous motivation to make the most of the life that we are given. I thank God for the gift of life and the tremendous opportunity and responsibility of it. I have chosen to live the rest of my life for Him.

What about you?

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