☩ HOW BLESSED YOU ARE TO BE ALIVE ☩
The Mercy of Time
Most people don’t realize how dangerous normalcy bias is. They mistake comfort for safety, and time for approval. They think they’ll live forever. They think being a "good person" is enough. They think that if they avoided death, it must be a sign that they’re favored. But it isn't favor. It's delay.
Scripture says:
"Sir, leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down." (Luke 13:8-9)
That verse was not spoken in rage. It was spoken in finality. It is not an exaggeration. It is a verdict. In fact, it is a desperate plea.
If you are still breathing right now, you are blessed. But not because you earned it.
You are blessed because you still have time. God's mercy leads to repentance. He is not keeping you alive because you're worthy. He's keeping you alive because He's merciful.
That car crash you survived? That overdose that didn’t kill you? That close call that made you say, "I must be blessed!" That was not a stamp of approval. That was a stay of execution. It will not become a blessing unless it leads you to repentance. You are the tree given one more year to bear fruit before it is cut down.
And yes, guilt hurts. But only when it’s prideful. There are two kinds of sorrow.
Worldly Sorrow is Extreme Sorrow. It is self-focused, bitter, and prideful. It says, "I am ruined, so I might as well burn." Or, it leads to to further evil. Extreme Sorrow is what caused Cain to murder Abel, his own brother.
Godly Sorrow is humble. It says, "I messed up. And I am truly sorry. Please forgive me."
Godly sorrow leads to life. Worldly sorrow leads to Cain.
An invisible fire is on the horizon. It is moving faster than you think. Faster than a California wildfire driven by Santa Ana winds. You won’t see it until it’s too late. You won’t smell the smoke until the flames have reached your door. The only safe time to repent is now.
Don’t feel prideful. Feel grateful. Don’t say, "God must have spared me because I’m good." Say, "God spared me because He’s merciful, and I still have time." But that time is running out. And when your last breath is gone, so is your chance to turn around. Your literal once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... will be gone.
So don’t wait for a voice from Heaven. The fact that you’re reading this is the voice. Repent. Live. Bear fruit. And thank God you are still alive.