In the Blink of an Eye

Have you heard someone describe a very frightening moment in their lives by saying “It all happened so fast?” Often in life, we realize that very serious things happen very quickly. More than once I have had a conversation with someone only to find out they passed away that night. Friends have commented on car accidents how someone or something just appeared out of nowhere before they could blink. At other times, we think about our kids growing up and it seems like just yesterday when they were born saying, “they grew up so fast.” On other occasions we hear the couple celebrating 50 years of marriage saying how it has flown by.

Biblically, we often think of the brevity of life. James said that life is but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Job said it is like the speed of a weaver’s shuttle. The point of thinking about the brevity of life is to take care of our spiritual needs quickly while we have the opportunity because our time will pass quickly. We need to hear and obey the gospel and live faithfully while we can. Our soul is too important to risk missing out on eternal life, especially when we realize how precious and temporary life really is in this realm.

Additionally, we think of the judgment when it comes to something happening very quickly. Paul said that in a moment, in the twinkling of time, we shall all be changed. We will put on a new body that will be incorruptible as opposed to the frail body we now have. In a moment, we will enter into a new spiritual realm where we will spend eternity with the Lord. We want to be ready for that day. We want to live in such a way that we hear the “well done,” good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.

Accidents, changes in life, the passing of our lives, the time we live, and the time between this world and eternal life all happen in the blink of an eye.

Even so, I want encourage you to consider something else that we can do in the blink of an eye. There are some things we can do quickly, with little effort, which can make a huge difference in the lives of others while helping us prepare for eternity.

In a moment, in the blink of an eye, we can…

· Lend a helping hand to those in need

· Speak an encouraging word to someone suffering in this world or dealing with health issues

· Hold a hand of someone hurting

· Preach the gospel to the lost

· Love someone who needs love (all of us)

· Show kindness and mercy to someone who is not used to being treated with Christian love

· Show compassion on the one suffering loss

· Give to the needy

· Visit the sick

· Visit the person in prison

· Provide a meal to the hungry

· Listen to someone who needs to talk

· Cry with someone who is weeping

· Celebrate with someone who is rejoicing

· Read your Bible to gain knowledge and strength

· Pray to receive God’s help

· Tell someone you love them

· Tell someone you will pray with and for them

· Sing with joy

· Play with a child

· Tell someone you appreciate them

· Hug someone who needs your love

· Give blood to help those in need

· Support the preacher

· Praise the elders

· Help the deacons

There are many things we can do in the blink of an eye to make a difference in this world. Things that happen quickly aren’t always negative. You can make a difference in a matter of seconds. What will you do this week?