When was the last time you spent a full day thinking about how you would live your life differently?

If you can think of such a day, chances are you likely spent such a day in a state of comfort. Perhaps you spent a day with a mentor, attended a conference, or took a spiritual retreat.

Now, imagine a different scenario. Imagine spending such a day in great distress, and being on the brink of death. Imagine the strong likelihood of impending death being upon you. Imagine all hope of survival being remote. Imagine being completely desperate for a miracle.

This was the situation Nick Schuyler found himself in 2 weekends ago. You may recognize his name from the recent news story of 4 men who went on a fishing trip 30 miles off the coast of Florida, but were overcome by stormy waves. Nick was the only man rescued. When one of the men’s mothers spoke with Nick, he shared with her a harrowing account of the friends’ fight for survival, describing how they swam back to the boat despite repeatedly being slammed by waves. What struck me as powerful was the account of how Nick and this friend managed to stick together for about 24 hours. When asked what they talked about, Nick said they talked about how they would live their lives differently. Given that he survived, I pray that Nick would experience such transformation.

I must say, it’s not every day that I consider the dark possibility of impending death. Most days, I’m thinking about what I have to do & what I want do. I have never had the experience of wholeheartedly fearing that death is around the corner, and of re-arranging my priorities accordingly.

My intent is not to trigger trepidation in our hearts, but rather to compel us to examine our lives and our priorities. So often, we live outside of what really matters.

Naturally, we live for self. Our sinful nature inherently orients us to live for personal gratification. With this in mind, our time, our talent, and our treasures are naturally steered & motivated by a commitment to self. When we are confronted with the reality of death, the mortality of self and the emptiness of its temporal motivations are held in contrast to the eternal virtues such as love, righteousness, wisdom, and worship.

When was the last time you spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how you were going to love better, live a more meaningful life, and be a better Christian?

If you were to talk to God about it right now, what might He speak to you about?

Take a moment right now to list out what your priorities would be if you knew you had:

1) A decade to live

2) A year to live

3) A month to live

4) A day to live

What were the common “denominators” for each? Whatever they were, they hint to what is important to you.

Though we may not be lost at sea, many of us are lost in the pride of life. Many of us do not live confidently and humble, but confidently & proud. Proud in the sense that we are puffed up in our heads about our own mortality. Many of us live in a cloud, failing to humbly recognize that our days may be numbered. We live as though we are in full control. God warns us of such pride in Proverbs 27:1,

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

The intent is not that we live in fear, but that we live with great security from our faith in God, and with a strong enough sense of urgency that we live with great purpose.

“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

Lord, send your grace that we might be humbled right now, right where we are. Rescue us, that we might not live lives worthy of regret. By your grace, may we die to self, pick up our cross, and daily live for you.

Live the life.