Good Morning! I'm your host Lonnie Wibberding, and you are listening to Umpqua Connect. A daily devotional podcast sent out from the beautiful Umpqua Valley of Southern Oregon.
Today is Thursday, January 28, 2021
Yesterday I had the privilege really, of sitting down and having lunch with a man dying of AIDs. He discovered what was wrong with him about 18 months ago. Since then he has dropped weight from around 220 lbs down to about 129 now. He is losing his eyesight.
Life is getting complicated as his body begins to succumb to an illness where there really is no hope from the medical world. He knows he is going to die. It is just a matter of time.
But about 18 months ago he also discovered Jesus. Gave his life to Jesus and is looking forward to eternal life.
As I sat at lunch with this man who is way too skinny, and draws the menu close so he can read it, I see an acceptance of what is. He has made his peace with God. He has assurance of eternal life.
As we eat and talk he tells me, "I wish I knew Jesus all my life. Life would have been so much better."
I have to agree. Knowing Jesus makes all the difference.
Philippians 3:7-10 says:
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
My new friend has it figured out. Even though he doesn't have much time left in this world, he has assurance of eternal life.
And when stacked against eternity, ten days, or ten thousand days here all start to look the same.
Thanks for connecting.
May God Bless your day. We'll talk again tomorrow