My friend passed away on Friday. Five days before her 22 birthday. Some of you are twice that age. Some maybe even three times.
Five days before her 22. Imagine the plans she had. For her birthday celebration. For her occupation. For her and her boyfriend’s future. For her future wedding. For her future kids. Even for her future grandkids.
Imagine the plans. The ideas. The visions of the life she had ahead of her.
When I found out, initially I felt shock. Disbelief. Confusion. Then once it all set in..I felt peace overtake me. Peace? After that kind of news? I can’t help but be certain that there is an almighty God after that.
Five days short of 22. All those plans, those ideas, those visions..gone in the blink of an eye.
What’s the one thing that we have in common between our plan and God’s plan?
God.
Jeremiah 29:11 says “for I know the plans I have for you.”
Does that mean don’t plan?
No.
Does that mean don’t think about the future?
No.
Does that mean let God do all the work and sit back without trying?
No.
It means..be ready.
Everyone knows we aren’t promised tomorrow, but who lives that out?
If today was your last day, is this where you’d want to be?
If yesterday was your last day, is it what you would’ve wanted to do?
If the last words you said were the last ones you’d ever say, do they reflect who you want to be known as?
Who do you want to be? Be that person.
What do you want to do? Do it.
Where do you want to go? Go there.
But only be, only do, and only go if it reflects God. If it honors your Father. If it glorifies his name. Because every second you spend not sharing his love is a second you’ll never get back.
Five days short of TWENTY TWO.
Did she reflect God?
You bet she did.
Did she glorify and honor him in her last moments?
I can’t say.
What I can say is it changed my perspective on the way I’m living. Because if I died today, I wouldn’t be satisfied with myself.
We will never be good enough to get into heaven. No amount of good works can get us there. But..faith without works is dead.
Just because you’ve sinned doesn’t mean you can’t learn from it. Just because you’ve done wrong doesn’t mean you can’t do right. Just because you can’t be perfect doesn’t mean you can’t try like hell to be the best you there is.
Love limitlessly.
Laugh effortlessly.
Live faithfully.
And be ready for the consequences.
Ashlee Edmiston was an incredible girl. She was the one who gave me an application to Mama’s and Papa’s Restaurant. She was the first one to cover one of my shifts. She was the one I decorated my graduation cap with. She was the one I spent my last night in my college town talking to for hours on our friend’s porch. Talking about life, past present and future. Talking about plans. About ideas. About visions.
She’s one of the few people who made me feel like my presence was enjoyed, not just endured. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.
You didn’t know her.
But one day, in heaven, you’ll get to meet her.
One day, in heaven, I’ll get to see her again.
I’ve already asked her to save me a seat.
But first..I told her that I need to glorify God and honor him here until it’s my turn to be called on.
