3 things to do before you die
Pastor’s Blog for Labor Day 2008
September 1, 2008
3 Things to Do Before You Die
Dave Freeman, co-author of the book "100 Things to Do Before You Die," died after hitting his head in a fall at his home. He was 47. His family said that he had done about half of the things in his book. The book's recommendations ranged from the obvious (attending the Academy Awards and running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain), to the more obscure (taking a voodoo pilgrimage in Haiti and "land diving" on the Island of Vanuatu, which Freeman once called "the original bungee jumping).
Even thought Dave Freeman wrote the book on what to do with your life, not even he was able to accomplish all 100 things he set out to do. Since most of us will not have the time and money to do all 100 things that Freeman suggested, how can we prioritize our lives to do the most important things?
I’d like to suggest 3 Things to Do before You Die. Get these right and all the others will fall into place:
1. Trust in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. He alone is God of the universe and Savior of the world. He died on the cross for your sins to bring you into relationship with himself. Get this right!! Don’t ignore him. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved” Romans 10:9
2. Walk with God every day. You were hardwired by God for relationship. Most of all He created you to have a relationship with Himself. He wants you to walk with you, talk with you (through prayer and reading the Bible), and know you every day of your life. It’s the reason you were created…to know and love God. Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you “. (John 15:15)
3. Lay up treasures in heaven. Here’s a little secret that wise people know: if you want to be truly happy give your life away serving God and others! You will NOT find lasting happiness and peace by filling your life with stuff and the pursuit of pleasure. All the stuff and pleasure in the world will eventually become stale and meaningless. Just ask King Solomon (read the book of Ecclesiastes) who had it all and experienced it all and came to the conclusion “vanity of vanities…all is vanity” (Ecc. 1:2)…except for knowing and fearing God (Ecc. 12:13). Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21)
One of Dave Freeman’s friends said about him, “He didn't have enough days, but he lived them like he should have”. None of us have enough days to do it all, but we can do the most important and essential things that will give us joy and peace on earth and guarantee us eternal life after death. I hope Dave Freeman got it right. I hope you get it right!