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I’ve chosen a rather somber but really important topic for this week, and that is to live like you’re dying. What does it mean to live like you’re dying? It simply means you are intentionally and daily aware that this life is temporary, every day is a gift, and as a Christ-follower, you are going to be accountable for your priorities, your life’s focus—the footprint you’re leaving.
Imagine you have a jar of marbles on your desk. There is one marble for every week you will live, if you live to be 100. Now, suppose every week you take a marble out just to remind you that your days are numbered. And then suppose you ask yourself as you remove each marble: What kind of footprint did I leave this week?
The jar would gradually become less full, and it would continually remind you that you’re dying, your days are numbered, and if you’re not intentional about leaving a godly footprint that inspires those who come behind you, you won’t. This jar of marbles would be a visible and intentional way to help you to live like you’re dying.
There’s a short parable in Matthew 13 that holds some really good news for us.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field (Matthew 13:44).
Get the picture. This person finds a treasure in a field that is not his. He recognizes the treasure to be very valuable. He starts figuring out how he can buy this field. He doesn’t have much, but joyfully—note that word—he sells all he has so he can buy that field.
Imagine what his wife or friends may have said to him? You’re selling everything you have—your home, your car, your computer, your clothes—to do what? To buy that field out there? Why? What’s there? You’re crazy! That is not a good bargain!
He ignores their ridicule and buys the field because he knows the treasure there. A treasure hidden to the eyes of others, but is very clear to him. And that treasure is worth giving up everything he owns, everything he’s worked hard to get, to get that treasure.
Why did he do it? Because he found something worth losing everything else for. That’s what living like you’re dying looks like—living for Jesus is more important than anything else, and you give up whatever you need to live for Jesus because he is worthy.