This morning I went grocery shopping with my daughter, Lexi, at the local Super Wal-Mart. We arrived around 8:30am to a relatively empty parking lot, which is a good sign, and began our journey up and down the long isles. As we were filling our cart with all kinds of healthy goodies (there is no such thing), I kept trying to remember what we already had in the cupboards at home so I didn’t double up on items. It is inevitable that I always buy something we do not need. FYI - we have two bottles of BBQ sauce in the cupboard in addition to the one in the refrigerator. After our leisurely stroll through each isle, we headed to the check-out, paid the cashier, and loaded the groceries into the car. When we arrived home, I quickly unpacked the bags and began the worst part of grocery shopping…putting everything away. While I was placing the recently purchased items in the fridge, I was finding stuff which had expired a few weeks earlier. There was the coffee creamer which was best if used by March 2008 (it is May by the way). I also found some soy milk which had expired three weeks ago ( I hope my son has not been drinking it). What did people do before they labeled products “Best if Used By”? A sure-fire way to test expiration is the old “sense of smell.” If it smells disgusting, throw it out. Milk is the worst, especially when you pour it out and instead of fluid, you get chunks! It is enough to make you gag! Anyway, these expiration dates are very helpful because they allow us to gage the usefulness of a certain product. A thought came to my mid while I was pouring out the mud-like milk…I wish life came with a “Best if Used By” date. Really. Maybe you think I am totally crazy, but I believe you would agree that it would be nice if you knew when your number was up so you could make the most of your life. On the other hand, I think God is wise in not allowing us to know when we will die. At the core of this issue is that He wants us to live everyday as if it was our last. Think back on the last day, the last week, and the last year. Have you spent your time wisely? Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus in regards to the wise use of time:
Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
My intention is not to make you think of death, but to think of life. You have been given one shot at it - don’t waste it.