What would you do differently if you knew it was the last time?
The last time your little one hugged you in public…
The last time you would kiss your spouse goodnight…
The last time you went to a movie theater/roller skating rink/bowling alley…
The last time you would spend Christmas with your parents…
The last time you would fall asleep peacefully…
The last time you saw a particular friend…
The last time you watched the sunset…
What would you do differently?
Would you pause at that moment and breathe in the sweetness of that “last” experience…?
Would you be sad or would you be happy…?
Would you take a mental photograph…?
Would you say one last “I love you” …?
While the question “what would you do differently” is applicable to death or dying, reflect on your last times because of anything that isn’t death related. The last times could be because of a divorce, an ill-timed comment, a sickness/disease, the passage of time/growing up, a move, a promotion, finances, etc., etc.
The last times are only last times, once we recognize they were the last time. In most instances, we don’t know that it’s the last time we’re experiencing a particular event. It won’t be until much later that you think back “when was the last time that xyz happened?”
There’s one “last time” that we know will happen, even when we don’t know the exact timing–the last days and the last times people will have an opportunity to hear the Gospel in order to make decisions about their own salvation.
We see the phrase “end times” and “last hour” in several scriptures, such as 1 Peter 1:5, 1 Peter 1:20, or 1 John 2:18. In fact in 1 John, “the last hour” is the closest adherence to Greek. The concept of the last hour or last day is a foreshadowing that Christ will come to Earth once more to gather all the believers to heaven.
While scripture is not clear about the exact timing of Christ’s second coming, the prophecy of what is to come is very clear. Christ is coming. Believers go home to Heaven. Non-believers stay on earth and they will endure unimaginable horrors. This means we, as Christians, are tasked with fully understanding that more “last times” are coming. Some would argue they are coming soon.
The most important thing you can do in your lifetime is to share the Gospel. With an impending end times prophecy, sharing the Gospel becomes even more important.
Don’t let the last time create a scenario where the question “what would you do differently?” includes your regret about not having shared the precious gift of God.
~Emily
Iron Porch 