Psalm 49:6-12 — They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) that he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honor abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Can you hear? The drum keeps beating. The clock keeps ticking. Time goes on. So do we, until one day we don’t.
If you think I’ve said this before, or at least talked about this topic before, you’re probably right. I make no apologies. It’s critical that everyone “gets” this — and takes action.
Yesterday, I had a really nasty shock. I heard that a young colleague — a young man less than half my age — had died over the holiday period. At Thanksgiving he had been diagnosed and hospitalized. By the end of the year he was dead. He was a nice guy, with a loving family — not married, early in his career, all his life before him. Yes — All his life before him until, suddenly, he had come to its end.
I am reminded of two things. I don’t know how much time I have to talk to people — and I don’t know how long they have to listen. Yes, I’m sure of my salvation … But I can’t stop there. That’s the starting point.
There are people I know that have Jesus as their Savior and Lord. But there are others I’m not sure about, and some I know for sure are not saved. At any moment they could die — and that would be the end of any chance of witnessing to them. Oh, I don’t have to worry about them ever blaming me — I’ll never see them again. but there will be an accounting …
Of course that accounting could be at any moment too. I could die at any moment too.
Yes, I know this isn’t a very cheerful devotion. I know the thought of death isn’t necessarily your favorite. To be honest it’s not mine either — but it’s one I’m trying to entertain more cheerfully, and with more purpose. After all, I have something to look forward to, and maybe some of those people I “haven’t had time to talk to” don’t. In his commentary on Psalm 49, Charles Spurgeon says “Let them weigh their gold in the scales of death, and see how much they can buy therewith from the worm and the grave.” There is the truth of it. Once our friend is dead, there is nothing we can do to call him back, there is nothing we can say to lead her to Christ.
The drum keeps beating. The clock keeps ticking. Can you hear?