BBD 08.20.02 If I Should Die Tonight
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
country's flag on the map and leave a message. You can find it on the front
page at http://www.theburningbush.org
If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family
member who would like to start receiving it. Subscribing is easy. Send a
blank email to burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org or to subscribe to
the html version send a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org
The Burning Bush Devotional
08.20.02
If I Should Die Tonight
"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the
udgment." - Hebrews 9:27.
"We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and
to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present
or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the
body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing,
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.." - II Corinthians
5:9-11a.
Matthew Perry one of the stars on the "Friends" television show told the New
York Times that he has not had a drink since February of 2001. Perry says,
"I didn't get sober because I felt like it. I got sober because I was
worried I was going to die the next day." Facing death for many people is a
somewhat sobering experience and has resulted in countless changes in the
lives of those who lived another day past their close encounter with death.
I have had to preach the funeral messages for an unusual number of people
over the last several months including the one for our church pianist who
was a dear friend. I think that was on my mind when one night I was having
severe pain from a toothache and was throwing up from the pain medication
(Which wasn't helping that much!). During that time I decided I really
needed to share some things with my family and friends and wrote them a
letter saved on my computer as "If I Should Die Tonight." I began the
letter by saying, "If I should die tonight I know the world will keep on
going without me. My family and church will keep on going without me. God'
s work will still be done without me."
In addition to the personal words I wrote to my family I wrote the
following, "If I should die tonight I will be sad that I have not been more
faithful and productive for my Lord. I wish that I had been more faithful,
more steadfast, more disciplined; more of everything that God wanted me to
be. I've never regretted being a preacher and pastor. My only regret is
that after I was saved that I didn't stay in church, didn't read God's Word,
and didn't pray as I should so that I would have heard God's call earlier in
my life. I have never regretted the time I have spent attending church,
reading and studying God's Word, witnessing or praying. My only regret is
that I wasn't more faithful in doing those things. I am sorry that I wasn't
a better husband, father, and grandfather. I am sorry that I wasn't a
better pastor, preacher, and witness for my Lord. I'm sorry I wasn't the
prayer warrior that I knew I should be. I'm sorry that I've wasted so much
time with worldly things. Please forgive me Lord Jesus and I pray my family
will forgive me."
If you were to die tonight would you have any regrets? Is there something
in your life that you would want to change? Why not begin now to live, as
you know you should. Don't wait until it is too late!
Copyright © 2002. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited.
If I can help you in any way please contact me at wrather@logixonline.net
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer
requests to over 500 members. Send a blank email
to: theburningbush-subscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email
to: bbinspire-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email
to: tbbrr-subcribe@yahoogroups.com