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“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up” – Ecclesiastes
4:9-10
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Every Saturday morning they would meet at the gym for racquetball. Years had passed and grey hair was forming at
the temples, but these two would still don their sweat socks, tennis shoes and
goggles to compete and get a little exercise each week. After each game they would take time together
to sit and reflect on the week’s activities over a bottle of Gatorade or cup of
coffee. Now and then the topics would
involve the sickness or death of a mutual friend or family member, and a quiet
somberness would fall upon the table. ”Did you hear about Jim. . . .” or “her parents were in town for the funeral of
her little girl. . . “ or “He was
only 51, can you believe he had a heart attack at that age?” Almost as if they were reading the headlines
of the local newspaper.
One cold November morning though one of these men didn’t show up, and through countless attempts did not answer the cell phone. Driving over to his home the friend saw his car still in the driveway, so he pulled up alongside the curb. As he walked to the front door an uneasiness came upon him. He contemplated the worse, what if he had been robbed, what if he was unconscious inside or what if he had passed away. He pressed the doorbell with no answer. He walked around the porch and peeked through the windows, no visible sight of his friend or a struggle. Going back to the door, he twisted the handle but it was locked tight, not a usual action for his friend. He stepped off the porch and walked back to his car. He contemplated calling the police, but what would he say, “Hi, my friend of 70 years has gone missing this morning.”
Just then his cellphone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but answered it anyway. The voice on the other end was that of a much younger girl, not a common occurrence for the old man. She introduced herself as the daughter of his close friend, and then explained how she had surprised her Dad with a trip to the Grand Canyon. You see his wife had passed away only a few months earlier and it had always been his dream to visit there. She expressed that she was concerned about his health and wanted to fulfill one of his dreams in life. She then handed the phone over to her Dad and he expressed his sincere apologies for not making their appointment that morning but assured his friend that everything was okay and they would play again the next week. With that the friends laughed a little over casual conversation and said their goodbyes for the very last time. The friend passed away just a few days later, after returning from the Grand Canyon. At the wonderful age of 86, he fell asleep and quietly joined his wife in eternity.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow. The life you have must be lived in moments isolated events and actions. This is true for you as much as it is true for those around you. Personally, I am secure in knowing that upon my death, joy will fill my soul as I will be with my Savior face to face, and living in the presence of my Father for all of eternity. As confident as I am in my own eternal destiny I am not as confident in those around me. Those that I call “friend” will also one day pass from this earth. Have I truly been their friend if I have not taken the opportunity to discuss God’s plan of salvation with them? If any of my friends or family were to pass away unexpectedly tomorrow, what fate awaits them after they have taken their last breath? We spend so much time loving them here on earth, but consider the fact that this life of 85 – 90 – 95 years is but a microscopic dot on the timeline of our eternal life. Perhaps you are the one that God placed here to introduce them to Jesus plan of salvation. If you value your relationship as much as you say you do, don’t you think it’s time to discuss the most important decision they’ll ever make. We are here to disciple and support one another, not just to coast through life on a racquetball court. Your friend deserves the same fate you have destined for yourself, right? Pray about how you can help reach those who need to be reached and be blessed.
One cold November morning though one of these men didn’t show up, and through countless attempts did not answer the cell phone. Driving over to his home the friend saw his car still in the driveway, so he pulled up alongside the curb. As he walked to the front door an uneasiness came upon him. He contemplated the worse, what if he had been robbed, what if he was unconscious inside or what if he had passed away. He pressed the doorbell with no answer. He walked around the porch and peeked through the windows, no visible sight of his friend or a struggle. Going back to the door, he twisted the handle but it was locked tight, not a usual action for his friend. He stepped off the porch and walked back to his car. He contemplated calling the police, but what would he say, “Hi, my friend of 70 years has gone missing this morning.”
Just then his cellphone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but answered it anyway. The voice on the other end was that of a much younger girl, not a common occurrence for the old man. She introduced herself as the daughter of his close friend, and then explained how she had surprised her Dad with a trip to the Grand Canyon. You see his wife had passed away only a few months earlier and it had always been his dream to visit there. She expressed that she was concerned about his health and wanted to fulfill one of his dreams in life. She then handed the phone over to her Dad and he expressed his sincere apologies for not making their appointment that morning but assured his friend that everything was okay and they would play again the next week. With that the friends laughed a little over casual conversation and said their goodbyes for the very last time. The friend passed away just a few days later, after returning from the Grand Canyon. At the wonderful age of 86, he fell asleep and quietly joined his wife in eternity.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow. The life you have must be lived in moments isolated events and actions. This is true for you as much as it is true for those around you. Personally, I am secure in knowing that upon my death, joy will fill my soul as I will be with my Savior face to face, and living in the presence of my Father for all of eternity. As confident as I am in my own eternal destiny I am not as confident in those around me. Those that I call “friend” will also one day pass from this earth. Have I truly been their friend if I have not taken the opportunity to discuss God’s plan of salvation with them? If any of my friends or family were to pass away unexpectedly tomorrow, what fate awaits them after they have taken their last breath? We spend so much time loving them here on earth, but consider the fact that this life of 85 – 90 – 95 years is but a microscopic dot on the timeline of our eternal life. Perhaps you are the one that God placed here to introduce them to Jesus plan of salvation. If you value your relationship as much as you say you do, don’t you think it’s time to discuss the most important decision they’ll ever make. We are here to disciple and support one another, not just to coast through life on a racquetball court. Your friend deserves the same fate you have destined for yourself, right? Pray about how you can help reach those who need to be reached and be blessed.
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