5 keys to maximizing your last hour on earth
15 – “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 – Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 – Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians chapter 5 verses 15 to 17)
14 – “I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 – For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 – And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18 – Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (1John chapter 2 verses 14 to 18)
1. Realize the brevity of life:
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalms chapter 90 verses 12)
This life is meant to be a preparation for the next life and we should determine what God wants to accomplish for Himself, our families and others through our faithful service. God will evaluate our Works in Heaven by assessing how effectively we lived our lives on Earth. How will live our lives here will determine our placement in eternity.
2. Cultivate youthful piety:
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;” (Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verses 1)
Remembering our Creator means acting in the way He intended for us to act when He created us. He has given us life and the opportunities that come with youthfulness. We can “remember” God only by the help of the Holy Spirit, as we put on the New Man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and we must do so before death comes.
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians chapter 4 verses 24)
3. Subordinate earthly duties to heavenly duties:
29 – “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30 – And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 – And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” (1Corianthians chapter 7 verses 29 to 31)
We live in the period when all things of the world are hastening toward an end. For this reason, life in this world should not be our utmost concern. We should direct our greatest attention toward our heavenly home. Our live here has a time frame. It would not last for eternity.
13 – “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 – For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 – And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 – But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews chapter 11 verses 13 to 16)
4. Live a Genuinely Holy Life:
1 – “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 – And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
15 – See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 – Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians chapter 5 verses 1,2,15 and 16)
This is a call for us to understand and practice Complete Holiness.
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thessalonian chapter 5 verses 23)
5. Showing a consistent Good Example before the world:
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1Timothy chapter 4 verses 12)
We have a responsibility to model Christ Jesus before the unsaved by,
5 – “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6 – Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colosians chapter 4 verses 5 to 6)
Conclusion:
13 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 – For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verses we to 14)
Our prayer is that God will grant us the enabling grace to effectively utilize our last hour on earth wisely so that we will finish our course well.
