Good and faithful servant
As I reflect on the text in the Word of God, my wife is with her father and mother. She sat with her dad all night because the doctor said she suspected he wouldn’t make it through the night.
The whole family was there last night, and I had the privilege of saying a last prayer.
It was a difficult road getting here. It was hard to see life leaving him bit by bit. He probably doesn’t even weigh forty kilograms anymore. With every cough and rumble, one sees life draining from him.
His life is done.
His life’s expiry date has arrived and certainly, it’s not easy to bear. Yes, we know where we’re going. Jesus died to open heaven for us, but the road there is not so easy and not enjoyable.
One thing I will always remember about my father-in-law. He said everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die. I suspect that it is the unknown path that we must take from earth to heaven, which makes it so terribly difficult for us.
Each of us will get to this point one day. In a fetal position we entered the world and in the same way, we’ll exit it again. Peter also knew this: 14 I know that I’m to die soon; the Master has made that quite clear to me. 15And so I am especially eager that you have all this down in black and white so that after I die, you’ll have it for ready reference.
Peter knew that his life’s walk here on earth was reaching its end. That’s why he worked hard on his calling. He put everything into the assignment he received from the Father to help others on their life’s path, so that it could have an even greater impact in the world.
My father-in-law’s due date was revealed to him less than a year ago. However, unlike Peter, he did not pick up a pen and started writing a book to live his calling.
No, he lived out his calling every day of his life. I will never forget the image of him walking right behind my mother every Sunday with the little pillow she used to sit on.
If I had to sum him up with one word, it would be servant. He served his wife, his children and the people where he worked. Everyone could see his faith in his serving hands. When his due date arrived, his calling was seeded everywhere.
Each of us also has an expiry date. At some point, we too will exchange this earthly life for life in heaven. The only question is whether we’ve lived our calling here on earth by then.
Will the Father one day also be able to say of us: “Good and faithful servant. You have helped others reach me. You saved people. You served people. Welcome, come in, to your eternal rest.”
Scripture
2 Peter 1:12-15
Reflection
How does knowing about the expiry date affect you?
Do you serve others?
What legacy will you leave behind one day?
Prayer
Lord, how can one do otherwise than to live life so that others can see You? We don’t get it right every day. Help me to live so that others can see You. Amen.