Repent and Live: There’s More to Life

Luke 12:22-31

22Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

 27″Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

There’s More to Life

Susan’s sister, Iris, died at the age of 32. Her death took all of us, including Iris, by surprise. None of us expected the last few weeks to happen as they did. Had we known that God was going to take her life away on February 17, 2009, we would have done many, many things differently. Perhaps we would have followed a different treatment plan. Perhaps the whole family would have dropped everything and spent the last few months with Iris. (But then we might have driven each other crazy.) Perhaps we would have shared more about God’s love with her. Perhaps . . .

We could consider all the possibilities of what we could have, would have, should have done. . .  but none of that matters now. The number of our days are written in the Book of Life. There’s nothing we could have done or can do now to change that. No amount of regret about the past or worrying about the future can make a single difference. 

Life is more than all the things we do, think, and worry about. The only thing we can do right is to choose how we live today. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

“The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life. I have to choose thoughts that are your thoughts, words that are your words, and actions that are your actions…. Give me the strength and the courage to live this season faithfully, so that, when Easter comes, I will be able to taste with joy the new life that you have prepared for me.” Henri Nouwen