Close Calls

Close Calls
    

     It is unavoidable that we will all die -- unless we are first raptured.  Death is a reality that we know will claim us one day.  But, like so many other things, we dismiss the thoughts of its arrival, until it comes a little to close for comfort.
     Sometimes we experience unexpected illnesses or accidents that abruptly force us to face God, our mortality, and our future.  This can be a very good thing, especially if you are not a believer.  But, what if you are a believer?  What then?  If you suddenly woke up in an intensive care unit and you didn't know if you were going to make it or not, what would you be thinking about regarding your life and God?  It is hard to say unless you are actually there, but the longer you live, the more that scenario either has been a reality or will be one.
     Since we will all face death one day, why wait to think about the meaning of your life until you are forced to?  Why wait to talk to God about what is really in you, about what you really feel, really doubt, really believe?  Close calls can be good for the soul.  God can use them to cause us to face ourselves and Him.  Close calls can wake us up and help us sort out our priorities. 
     Sometimes, when life is comfortable and predictable, we let our priorities slip because we take our eyes off of the Lord and put them onto our lives and even on our ability to get things done.  I can't help but wonder if God doesn't use sickness and misfortune in the world to cause us to re-evaluate ourselves before Him.  After all, don't we need to do that from time to time even if we don't think we need it?  Don't we need to see if we are growing closer to the Lord or not? 
      I think that it can be quite merciful that God would allow us to undergo hardship since such hardship can bring us closer to Him -- if we allow the opportunity to do that.  Personally, I am thankful for close calls.  Of course, I don't enjoy them, but they can be quite helpful by scraping away all of our self reliance and exposing ourselves before God.
      So what about you?  Do you need a close call to get you thinking?  Do you need a drastic wake up call from God to get you to reconsider your life with Him?  Maybe, maybe not.  But, why don't you just sit down and talk to God.  Why not take a survey of your spiritual life and see where you are at with the Lord?  Open the Word of God, read, and pray.  Talk to Him.  He is always there to listen, close calls or not.