Millions of people worldwide were saddened yesterday at the passing of Steve Irwin, a man better known as "The crocodile hunter". The cause of death for this man who routinely handled deadly snakes and ravenous crocodiles was perhaps as shocking as anything. He died after being stung by a stingray while filming for his show off the coast of Australia. Expert's say that human deaths attributed to stingrays are extremely rare, and Steve died only because the barb just so happened to puncture his heart.
Often death comes as a surprise. I'm sure when Steve Irwin awoke yesterday morning and kissed his wife and kids he never dreamed it would be for the last time.
Sad events like this always remind me of the uncertainty of life. Even though in the very back of our minds we know that last day is coming for us, we do not know when and seldom will know how it will happen. James 4:14 says: "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."
I believe planning for that day begins right now. I'm not suggesting that we live with this morbid thought floating around in our heads, in fact that would be wrong, but I am suggesting that we live our lives as one prepared for that finality. Here's my personal checklist for living a prepared life:
1. Make sure you tell your family you love them every single day. And don't just tell them, show them. Hug and kiss your children, speak encouraging, uplifting words to them every single day. Give affirmation to your spouse as often as you can. Compliment your loved ones - look for positive things to say. The world is full of negativity; don't let that come out of your mouth.
2. Make sure you live each day to the fullest for God's glory. The old saying goes, "One life on earth will soon be past - only what's done for God will last." Every day we have been given is a gift from the God who gave us our life, so go for God with all of your heart. Remember Jesus said we should love God with all of our "heart, soul, mind and strength."
3. Don't procrastinate. I once heard that "Tomorrow is a day found only on a fool's calendar". That truth has always stuck in my heart. You've no doubt heard the Latin phrase 'carpe diem' that literally means, "pluck the day", but is usually stated as "seize the day". Every day should be "plucked" and lived to the fullest.
4. Important things always come first. A Christian's priority list should look something like this: God, spouse, children, everything else. Don't allow the urgent to rule your life - make sure you rule it. Similarly, don' t allow your calendar to control you - you control it.
Seize the day!
