They transported my grandpa Bill from in home hospice here at our house last night to in patient care at the hospice house. We had a family meeting beforehand, prayed, cried, and loved on each other. In the words of one of the experienced nurses, is looks like his departure is imminent.
Even as we prepare for his “imminent departure”, the Bible tells us to be eagerly ready for Jesus’ “imminent return” or for our own “imminent departure” because we don’t know the day or hour, and we aren’t promised tomorrow.
I wonder how differently we might love each other, how much easier we might forgive, how much longer we might hug, how much more thoughtfully we might serve, how much generously we might give if the IMMINENT IMPORTANCE OF NOW was greatly focused in our mind?
And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.
Titus 2:12-15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/tit.2.12-15.NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
Philippians 3:17-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.3.17-21.NLT
Harold J. Ballinger 