Billy Graham was asked recently, "What is the most amazing thing you have ever encountered"?

He answered, "The brevity of life"!

At best, life is brief. The scripture speaks of seventy years as the norm, but what is seventy years, when you have lived them? What is any amount of time, when it is used up?

Think of it - No More Time To Live! And that moment will come to each of us!

The Bible says, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a time, and then vanisheth away". (James 4:4)

The Bible states, "The days of our years are three score and ten; and if by reason of strength they be four score years, yet is their strength, labour and sorrow. For it is soon cut off and we fly away". (Ps. 90:10)

ALL WE REALLY HAVE IS TODAY!

We have no guarantees of tomorrow. All we are certain of, is today. Our future is in God's hands! He's the only one Who really knows what tomorrow will bring, for us!

The hymnwriter penned the words:

"Today is mine, tomorrow may not come
I may not see the rising of the sun,
But, when evening falls,
May my work on earth be done
Today is mine. Tomorrow may not come!"

What guarantee do any of us have that we will live to be forty, fifty or seventy? Even if we had a guarantee we could live until we were one hundred years of age, what is that in comparison to eternity?

Some are taken at an early age, others are allotted more time. For each of us, life is precious! We have much to  accomplish. So many friends to visit, places to go and things to see!

In more than 30 years of ministry, I have witnessed a lot of deaths. There have been many funerals - for both young and old. And the uppermost thought in my mind has been: "Did he know Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour? Was she ready to meet God"?

And at times, I think of my life. "If I were taken today, have I fulfilled my calling? Is there something I have failed to communicate or share? Have I been faithful in warning my fellowman of the certainty of death and the Coming Judgment?"

My question is: "What have we, as Christians, done to spread the gospel? To share the love of Jesus Christ to a world lost in sin, degradation, poverty, superstition and fear? How many poor and sickly have we helped to feed, heal and nurture"?

And old gospel song inquires:

"How many are the lost that I have lifted?
How many are the chained I've helped to free?
I wonder, 'Have I done my best for Jesus'
When He has done so much for me?"

It's an awesome responsibility to be alive in this hour, when so many on this clod are in such desperate straits; spiritually, mentally, socially and economically!

One person cannot do it all alone but everyone doing his or her part, can make a big difference in so many lives.

"Only one life, it will soon be past,
And only what's done for Christ will last."

In trying to sum up the most important things in life, I have come up with a simple philosophy.

THREE THINGS ARE VITAL!

1) A person's relationship with God.
2) A person's relationship with his family.
3) A person's relationship with his fellowman.

Thousands of years ago, King Solomon wrote: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil". (Eccl. 12:13,14)

May we all pray with King David, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom". (Ps. 90:12) In both the Old and New Testaments, we are warned about the brevity of life and advised to prepare for eternity, which will never end!

The Bible says, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment". (Heb. 9:22)

In all my theological studies, counseling with the terminally ill and comforting the bereaved, I have learned that there are no easy answers to the questions of life and death!

DEATH SEPARATES LOVED ONES, CRUSHES HOPES AND DREAMS AND CAN BE BOTH CRUEL AND UNCOMPROMISING!

But, death can be overcome, nullified and voided! The Bible reports that Jesus Christ - through His death and resurrection - defeated death, hell and the grave. And that He has the power to deliver us from the power of death, because He is victor over all the power of Satan.

St. Paul declared, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death...then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

"But thanks be to God, Which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15:26, 54-57)

And I am in total agreement with St. Paul and Billy Graham. Mankind's only hope lies in accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of our lives.