MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER
RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK
I have discovered that when you are sick that here are a lot of different thoughts that can pop into your mind. And some of those thoughts may linger for a while, causing you to mull them over & dwell upon them in your mind.
As I told some of you last week, during the first part of my illness I felt so bad that I was concerned I might die. But as the illness got worse I got to the place where I was afraid that I might live.
Of course, I was kidding. But I must admit that as I lay sick in bed, one question kept repeating itself in my mind: “What would I do if I knew that I had but one year left to live?”
“What would I do if I had but one year to live?” And to make it a little bit more personal, “What would you do if you knew you had but one year to live?” Well, as I lay there in my sick bed, here are some of the answers that I came up with.
I. THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE IN SOME OF MY ATTITUDES
If I had but one year to live I’m sure that there would be a change in some of my attitudes. There are things that seem so important now that would suddenly become unimportant in my eyes.
What the apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:16 17 would take on new significance to me: "Everything in the world the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes & the boasting of what he has & does comes not from the Father but from the world.
“The world & its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
For me, at least, my time in this world would soon be over. Many things in this world would no longer be as attractive to me as they have been in the past. And some of my attitudes would change, too.
A. I would be more concerned about how I used my time, & I would use my time more wisely. Most of us act as if we had all the time in the world.
ILL. Ben Franklin said, "Doest thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."
The apostle Paul said: "Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity." (Ephesians 5:15,16)
There are many things we say that we would like to do, for which we have "no time." But if the truth were known, we have actually wasted enough time to do those things. But with only one year left to live, each minute would be a precious moment to be used to the fullest!
Two or three minutes two or three hours
What do they mean in this life of ours?
Not very much, if but counted as time
But minutes are gold & hours sublime.
If only we use them once in a while
To make someone happy, to make someone smile.
A minute may dry a little lad's tears,
An hour sweeps aside the trouble of years.
Minutes of my time may bring to an end
Hopelessness somewhere, & give me a friend.
B. I wouldn't become excited over insignificant things. All those little things that now "get under my skin" would seem so unimportant. I would try to be more patient, understanding, kind, & loving. All the acts & words of love that I should have done or said before, I would now try to do.
C. I would enjoy life more. I think that I would begin to understand how blind Bartimaeus must have felt when at last he could see. Only for me I would be looking around at scenes and faces, realizing that some of them I would be seeing for the very last time.
God intends for us to enjoy life. "Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord! Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice." (Philippians 3:1; 4:4)
II. I WOULD DO MY BEST TO MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT BETWEEN ME & OTHERS
A. Again, "If I had but one year to live" I would do my best to make everything right between me & others. I would try to straighten out any problems between us.
Jesus said, "First be reconciled to your brother." (Matthew 5:24) With one year to live I don't need any enemies! So no longer would pride keep me from saying, "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"
Furthermore, I would hold no grudges. I would wipe my grudge board clean because I want God to forgive me, & I know that God says that He will forgive me in exactly the same way that I forgive others.
B. I would also make sure that I am right with God.
Let's face it. All of us have fallen short of what we know we should do. So I would take a personal inventory to see where I had missed the mark & try to make corrections.
Little termites can destroy a house. Solomon said that "a little folly is like dead flies in the ointment" (Ecclesiastes 10:1) it can destroy all the good that a man might do.
So, whether I considered them big or small, I would try to find my faults by comparing the Scriptures & my life. And when I discovered those sins, I would do something about them.
C. I would seek also to lead as many people to Christ as possible. By this, I will be making the greatest contribution I could possibly make to the welfare of the world.
ILL. Many men have spent their last days trying to erect great monuments so they will not be forgotten. What are the pyramids, but the tombs of kings? Today we know about the pyramids, but not much about the kings. Earthly memorials lose their meaning.
But in leading a soul to Christ, we start a memorial that will never end. For that soul will influence others & they will influence still others. And on & on the unending chain reaction goes.
A voice from heaven said that those who die in the Lord rest from their labors & "their works do follow them." (Revelation 14:13)
Why don't their works come with them? Because their works are not finished. The chain reaction that they started continues on & on. The Apostle Paul's influence is greater on the earth today than it ever was during his lifetime.
If I were not a Christian, then the thing for me to do would be to repent of my sins, put my trust in Jesus & be baptized into Him.
III. I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY
Again, "If I had but one year to live" I would be concerned about my family. I am sure that I would carefully consider, "What do I need to do to protect my family before I die?" Will their needs be taken care of? Of course, I have already tried to assure their physical welfare as best I could.
But with my change of attitude about things of real value, their spiritual welfare would be my greatest concern. Solomon said: "Train up a child in the way he should go: & when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
In the short time remaining, I would do what I could to reinforce the faith that they have, & to encourage them always to walk in the ways of Christ.
And to do that, I would not just tell them how they ought to live, I would do my best to show them – to model for them the kind of a life that Jesus wants us to live!
Isn’t that what Jesus did? Go back with me to what we call “The Last Supper.” The apostles didn’t realize it yet, but that Passover Meal they were about to celebrate would be their last one together. That very night Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, tried, condemned - & then early the next morning – crucified!
Jesus knew what was going to happen – but they didn’t! Yet Jesus had one more special lesson that He wanted to teach them. Do you remember what it was?
John 13:4-5 tells us that Jesus “got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, & wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, he poured water into a basin & began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.”
Immediately, Peter began to protest. He was their Rabbi, their teacher, their Lord. He shouldn’t be doing the work of a servant! It was beneath Him!
Well, with just a few words Jesus silenced Peter’s protest & finished washing their feet. Then Jesus asked them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? ... You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:12-15)
Oh Lord, if I have but one year to live, or many years, help me to so live that those around me will see Jesus in what I do & how I live!
IV. I WOULD PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO MY OWN SPIRITUAL LIFE
That brings up our last point, but certainly not the least important: "If I had but one year to live" I would pay careful attention to my own spiritual life.
In only a year my soul would be passing into the presence of God. In His presence only the spiritual will have any value. If I am to be ready for that occasion, I must develop my spiritual life.
A. First of all, I would attend all the services of the church because they are designed for the specific purpose of developing me spiritually.
Then I would want to take an active part in the work of the church. I would not wait to be asked to do something; I would volunteer. I would try to do anything I could, & I would be saddened because I had not developed my talents & abilities where I could do more.
But I would do what I could, for I would want to hear Jesus say, "Well done thou good & faithful servant."
And I would try to be more consistent in my efforts. It is easy to "run hot & cold," to be "up & down" & "off & on" in the Lord's service. But I read of the early Christians that "they continued steadfastly…" (Acts 2:42)
And Paul said to "be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58) Jesus Himself said that He hated lukewarmness in His followers (Revelation 3:16).
So I would want to run hot all the time for the Lord. And this little poem would become precious to me. "'Tis but one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."
B. Secondly, I would study my Bible regularly, & there would be no excuses offered such as "I'm too tired," or "I just can't find the time." If I am honest with myself, I must admit that I spend a great deal more time now with the TV than I do with God's Word!
But when the things of this world begin to lose their appeal, it will be natural for me to turn more & more to the Bible, which treats of eternal things. I would want to "study to show myself a workman approved of God." (2 Timothy 2:15)
Then, of course, I would want to communicate constantly with God, since I would soon be seeing Him face to face. Paul tells me how when he says, "Pray without ceasing." (1Thessalonians 5:17)
In the past, I have often neglected to thank God for my many blessings, to ask God for wisdom in making decisions, & to pray for forgiveness for my many sins. But now I would spend hours in talking to God!
A two minute prayer may have taxed my spirituality in times past, but now my thoughts would be so full that an hour could not contain them all.
Yes, if I had but one year to live, I would try to develop my spirituality to the fullest so that I might be prepared for that prepared place.
CONCL: These are a few of the conclusions that I reached as I considered the question, "What if I had but one year to live?" I think if any man will consider it carefully, it will make a great deal of difference in his life.
The whole point is this. We should live every year or month or week or day as though it were our last on earth.
ILL. When John Wesley was asked what he would do if this were his last night on earth, he replied, "At 4:00 I would have some tea. At 6:00 I would visit Mrs. Brown in the hospital.
“Then at 7:30 I would conduct the mid week service in the chapel. At 9:15 I would have my supper. At 10:00 I would go to bed & in the morning I would wake up in glory."
We must always be ready to die, for if we are not prepared to die, we are not prepared to live!
What if you had but a year to live? Would you be ready? If you need to come, will you come now as we stand & sing?
INVITATION
(Note: I prepared this message some time ago when I was recovering from a major illness. Undoubtedly I got my ideas from several sources, but I no longer remember what sources.)
