If today were your last day on earth, how would you live it? Reflect on life’s meaning, priorities, and what truly matters most. Most of us don’t get that kind of warning. But if we did, would we choose differently? I don’t mean to sound morbid—but it’s a powerful question worth asking.
James 4:14, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
“You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.” — Rick Warren
The Accident
I passed a horrific accident on the interstate after visiting family. Metal twisted like paper. Debris littered the highway. Both cars had rolled at high speed. Their roofs lay shredded and torn off completely. The wreckage screamed devastation. No one could have survived.
My first thought: Were they ready to die this morning when they woke up?
Psalm 39:4, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”
Today probably started like any other day for them, except for the excitement of a trip. Plans were made, all the essential things needed for the trip were gathered and stored, and life moved forward. Most of us begin each day expecting it to continue normally.
We rarely think: This is the day I stand before God. We assume today will unfold like yesterday. But sometimes, it doesn’t.
The Conversation
I remember a conversation from years ago with an inmate on death row. I was curious about how it feels to know the exact time and date of your death. To me, it seemed frightening and unsettling. He became a Christian in prison; his response was that it was comforting. He then asked, “Do you know if you will live to make it home? Were you prepared?” Life has a way of disrupting our plans. That really stayed with me.
Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Seeing this accident reminded me of his statement. Did I wake up this morning with the intent to live today as if it were my last? Do I live that way every day? Sadly, my answer is “No.” Somehow, I expect to keep living, pretty much the same way I always do. I make a few adjustments along the way, but that is about it.
The Realization
Tomorrow is not guaranteed. There are apologies we’ve postponed. People who need to hear the Gospel. Loved ones we haven’t embraced. Invisible neighbors who crave recognition. It’s easy to let the urgent override the essential. Easy to say, “I’ll get to that later.”
But what if later never comes?
“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I want you to be prepared. Take a moment every morning to think about it and respond accordingly.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” –