A Day Closer
"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, since that is the end of all mankind, and the living should take it to heart." – Ecclesiastes 7:2 (CSB)
My husband was hired to play at a celebration of life service. The event was held on a Sunday, so we had to leave immediately after our own church service to make it on time. The celebration was about an hour away.
When we arrived, people were bustling about, putting together final touches for the gathering. The event took place at a Moose Lodge, so I found my way to the bar area and began watching the football game on the television to stay out of the way.
To my surprise, the host of the event invited me to join in and fellowship with them and their guests. I later learned the host was the wife of the individual whose life was being celebrated. She explained that his family had wanted a traditional church funeral, which was held in Whittier, California, but this gathering was her way of honoring what he had wanted.
As I sat and listened to everyone share stories about him, I noticed a common theme in their recollections: his personality and how deeply he would be missed.
When I was younger, I didn’t fully understand why the Bible says it is better to be in a house of mourning than a house of feasting. But in that moment, revelation began to flow. It became clear to me that such moments remind us of life’s fleeting nature and how we treat others is what truly matters.
Even now, as I write this devotional, my husband is asking me to spend time with him. I have no idea what the next moment holds, so I’m choosing to take him up on his offer.
It’s heartbreaking that so many of us fail to grasp how precious life on earth truly is. As the celebration drew to a close, someone sang Frank Sinatra’s My Way. The song made me reflect on how often people choose to live life their way, failing to acknowledge that our time here is temporary.
Jesus reminds us in Revelation:
“Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” – Revelation 22:11–13 (ESV)
Key Points
Everything you do on earth matters.
Life is just a mist.
This season on earth is temporary.
Your decisions here determine where you will spend eternity.
Prayer
Father,
With a heavy heart, I praise and thank You. I pray that every person’s heart will be open to hear Your voice as You draw them to Yourself. I ask that Satan’s voice be silenced so that they may hear You clearly in the moment and receive You into their soul. Thank You, God, that it is Your desire for everyone to be saved and that You are always working to draw people to You. Hallelujah! To You be the glory and praise! Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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