My Last Night on Earth

Was reading Luke 22-24 this morning.  As I finished, the thought hit me, "What would I do if I knew tonight would be my last night on earth?"

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what I would do.  I've heard people say all sorts of things about  how they would spend their last night on earth, from partying all night long to giving everything they owned away to just about anything you can dream up.

Jesus knew this would be his last night on earth.  It was the last night he would have to spend with his buddies and family.  It was the last night he would share his earthly form with us.  It was the last night that he could do whatever he wanted.  Yet, Jesus didn't spend partying like it was 1999.  He didn't check off stuff from a bucket list.  He didn't even gather his family around him to tell them goodbye.

Instead, Jesus spent his last night on earth praying, teaching, fellowshipping, and preparing the apostles for what was about to happen.  Jesus' last night was spent getting ready for what was to come in a few short and agonizing hours.  And to the end, he focused on fulfilling God's purpose for his life.  And am I glad he did.

Like I said, I really don't know what I would do.  I would like to think of all  kinds of "spiritual" things I would do like focus on the Father, spend time in prayer, or share the gospel with someone who needed to hear it.  But who knows.  I'm not so spiritual that I can't imagine me wanting to eat my  favorite food - Bar-B-Que or Italian or a good steak.  Or that I wouldn't have some things still left to check off of a bucket list.  Or go for one more ride on a Harley.  Or hang out with some of my buddies and relive old times.  There's a ton of stuff I can think of that I would do.  And none of it has to do with fulfilling God's will for my life.  It's all about me.  Yet, Jesus wasn't all about himself.  He was all about me. . .and you.

What would you do if you knew this would be your last night on earth?

Great question,
Mike

Comments

eldic said…
I don't know what I would do, but one thing ponder me every time I read about this: for the longest time I thought Jesus spend much of the night praying for himself (which would have been justified), until I read that he told Simon Peter "Satan asked for your soul but I have prayed for you". We have all read about the night Peter, John, and James could not stay awake and the test Peter faced and failed later that night. I wonder how many times I felt need to pray, and failed, but Jesus already prayed for me? -chiu
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 2:58:00 PM
Deb said…
Mike, Thank you for a great post! My prayer is to treat everyday like it might be my last. Then I would just keep doing what I am doing. Now, the truth is I fall very short of my goal, but thankfully the Lord never falls short. His love keeps me moving forward! Deb
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 10:50:00 AM
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