Due to unexpected
developments, I recently found myself in a hospital, being monitored by an
electrocardiogram machine. Suddenly, the
staff sprang to action when they noticed that my heart rhythm had
flatlined. For a span of eight seconds I
had no heartbeat, and the pulse remained very sporadic for another minute or
so. After the initial flatline, CPR was
administered, bringing me back to consciousness.
Physically, this was a
watershed event which will cast a lingering effect over the remainder of my
earthly pilgrimage. The subsequent
installation of a pacemaker was meant to ensure that, should my heart again
fail to generate sufficient, internal, electrical impulse to maintain a healthy
pulse, the pacemaker will produce the necessary contraction of the heart muscle
to send life-sustaining blood through the rest of my body.
Considered from a
spiritual perspective, such traumatic events remind us just how tenuous life is
in this world. If my heart had not
restarted, my soul would be in the presence of God, my body in the grave. In light of the uncertainty and ultimate
brevity of life, the New Testament urges us to “redeem the time” or, literally,
to “buy up the opportunities.” In other
words, we are charged with making the best use of the days that God grants to
us in this world.
Incessantly we must make
decisions on how to use our time and resources. When we thoughtfully evaluate
the relative importance of certain actions in light of eternity, such analysis
will help us sort through the myriad of opportunities that confronts and
potentially distracts us. Not every activity will equally redound to the glory
of God.
May God grant wisdom to
enable us to make choices that reflect our profession of faith. Too many who bear the name Christian are
bent on merely amassing earthly accomplishments, to the detriment of laying up
treasure in heaven. None of us know when
his flatline will become permanent.
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