“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6
What makes you feel alive? Maybe it’s a walk in the woods or on the beach. Maybe it’s telling stories with family around the dinner table. Maybe it’s that first sip of coffee in the morning.
You’re fully awake to the present moment. Not dwelling on the past. Not worrying about the future. Just enjoying the gift of life, right now.
For me, nothing provides that “alive” feeling more than walking through the cemetery behind our house. I know, it’s a bit morbid but hear me out. Some folks died recently and some long ago. Some lived a long life and some only a couple months.
One thing each person had in common? They all died. Not sure if you heard the recent statistics but 100% of people are dying these days. Death is unavoidable. It is inevitable. No special diet or essential oil or plastic surgery can achieve us immortality.
Ever been to a funeral? There’s something about it that causes us to ask, “How will I live my life? What will people say about me at my funeral? Where will I go when I die?”
You see, being fully alive is less about what we can touch or see or smell or taste. Yes, morning coffee is amazing. But earthly things are temporary. Here today and gone tomorrow. They rot and rust and fade and crumble and break promises.
Being fully alive means experiencing the goodness and mercy of God all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6a). By the way, those things don’t run out.
Even when we aren’t good, He is good. Even when we break promises, He fulfills His. Even when we don’t love others, He loves us. Even when we walk away from Him, He walks towards us. In fact, He chases us down and welcomes us back home. Every time.
Speaking of home, one of the gravestones said that on April 12 2004 Charlie “went home to be with Jesus.” He traded his earthly address for an eternal one. In fact, right in this very moment God is preparing a place for you and for me (John 14:2).
And when we arrive home, our Savior will greet us with open arms and “we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6b). No more tragedy and disease. No more broken hearts. No more striving and working and trying to make ends meet. Only peace. Only Jesus.
Prayer: God, thank you for dying so that I could live forever with you. Help me to be fully aware of your presence each day. Show me how I can make an eternal impact on others. Amen