With a heavy heart, did I go to my Lord,

to ask Him why we suffer so,

Why is it so hard to let go of those

who leave us to go where we don’t know?

Why do we cry when we think we know

that person we love will soon be with Him,

I wondered, I prayed, I thought real hard,

and then quickened within was the answer to why,

He said “Have you done all that you can?

Have you really tried?

Have you held My hand?

Did you teach your kids to trust in Me?

Did you hug your parents while you still could?

Did you open the doors for all you should?

Did you tell all my people about My Son?

Did you act with kindness to those you saw?

Did you do a good job at work today?

Did you think of others, and did you pray?”

I think sometimes, the reason we’re scared

to lose someone to death, is ‘cause we’re not sure,

if they really believed and will go to heaven.

We really don’t know what is in their hearts,

we just hope and pray that they did believe.

And, then when it comes down to us,

we’re not really sure ‘cause of what we’ve done,

but we still have time! and we can do more,

so hasten, think hard, and get up, get gone.

It’s not by works that we are saved,

but it is by works that we receive.

Were you merciful today?

Do you need God to be merciful to you?

Jesus said we first have to be merciful to others.

Have you forgiven someone for harming you?

Do you want God to forgive you?

Jesus said first we must forgive others,

or our heavenly Father will not forgive us.

Did you talk about someone in a critical way?

Then someone will be talking about you that same way.

Did you judge someone today, in your mind?

Jesus said we will be judged in the same way.

Did you go see someone in the hospital today?

If you’re ever in the hospital, you might not receive visitors.

Did you come out of your comfort zone to help someone today?

When you need help, others just may stay inside the comfort of their homes, too.

Did you tell someone how good God has been to you?

He said if you’re ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of you, too.

Did you read about Him today?

Or did you read your other magazines, or watch TV instead.

Did you seek Him today?

Or did you call your friends instead.

Did you stay up late reading your bible and studying your Sunday school lesson?

Or did you stay up late to play dominos or shoot pool with your friends?

What have you done with your life? Could you have done any better?

You still have time to change things for yourself.

As long as we are alive on this earth, we still have time to be merciful, forgive, do good deeds, think of love acts to perform for others, and even if we don’t know someone in the nursing home, it may pay off for you, (if you end up there), to go visit someone you don’t know today, and just strike up a conversation with someone sitting out on the front porch, or in the TV room, or ask the nurse who needs a visitor, and go sit with them, and spend some time with an “unknown friend.”

Your presence just very well could be like that of an angel to them at that critical time. Allow the love of God to flow through your act of kindness, and be a listening ear, or read a story or a Psalm to the individual you are visiting. Perhaps even say a prayer with them or for them. Bless them, and then God will bless you in return.

We don’t have that much time left. We could die tomorrow, we could get killed in a car wreck going home today, and will God be merciful to you? But we need to keep our hearts clear and sincere, because God said He loves a cheerful giver, so we can’t do it because we want that to come back to us. We need to do it out of pure love and human compassion, expecting nothing in return, because Jesus said when we invite friends over for dinner, invite those who can not pay us back.

Luke 14 “ 12 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

Those are things we can do, and if we do all we can, we know God will do the rest.

But first and foremost, Do you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Son of Man, and that He lived, died and arose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God the Father? If not, I encourage you to come hear our pastor preach about Jesus, so you’ll have a chance to receive His abundant grace, mercy and life, both here on earth, and in heaven eternal, at Mt. Horeb Baptist Church, on Peyton Colony Road, off RR 165.

May God bless Lester Yett in repose, in Jesus’ name, Amen.