This is post NINE of a ten part blog. Check back each Monday for a new submission.

Well, it has been fun to share some spiritual secrets that worked well for me the past 32 years walking with my Lord. I pray you have been blessed from these Heavenly hints and as this proverbial plane is heading on its “FINAL APPROACH” before we hit the runway I wanted to share with you another attribute that has made all the difference in my Christian walk.

This is not rocket science but I learned something early in life. Women have a biological clock and are cognizant of the fact that birthing babies is a window that eventually closes. I cannot explain it but since elementary school I also have sensed a unique urgency that I was on borrowed time. Not referring to having kids but standing before The King. Since second grade I daily had two main thoughts that dominated my mindset. BUCKLE UP: Either Jesus was on His way back or I am on my way out!

Ministry without urgency leads to catostrophe. To an extent I guess I had a DEATH WISH. Not in a negative way or title of a Charles Bronson movie but the Apostle Paul said: “I die daily.” Billy Graham said it best: “We are not ready to live until we are ready to die.” Living forward for the Lord is really backwards to many. We are called to serve to get promoted, we trust what we cannot see, fame takes a back seat to faith and dying promotes living.

I have always thought personally but now share with you publicly that if we truly got a glimpse of Heaven and mindful of the horror of Hell that EARTH WOULD TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. It is too easy to consider this and only this world but this is NOT our Home. I am a pilgrim passing through. It has been repeated that “some men are so Heavenly minded that they are no Earthly good.” Personally, I have never met a “earthly minded” person that has done any Heavenly good. It is imperative that we put feet to our faith and serve our Savior and society while we have time.

Sylvester Stallone indirectly got me intrigued with watches. His are a tad more expensive than mine but I like clocks in all shapes and sizes. One guy asked me once if that was a grand-father watch on my wrist! I laughed and replied that with my vision deteriorating I needed something that even STEVIE WONDER could see 🙂 No, I don’t have a Breitling or Rolex but I was told two decades ago that the way to spot an authentic ROLEX or a fake was that the second hand skips on a counterfeit but the geniune never hesitates. Personally, I love the Presidential Rolex and would love to wear one but for me the best depiction of “time” is the ancient hour glass like the one on DAYS OF OUR LIVES soap opera. It reminds us all – rich or poor, black and white, Republican or Democrat and atheist or believer in Christ that eventually TIME WILL RUN OUT.

Elvis sang a hit that helped catapult him even higher in pop culture “RETURN TO SENDER.” As kids of The King (not talking Elvis or MJ) I am reminded daily that my life is not my own. This is not my home and one day and possibly soon either God is coming down to get me or I’m on my way out and up to meet Him. For over four decades (I am 39 – born in 1972) this mindset had served me well.

Billy Graham was asked what was the greatest surprise of his life. Without hesitation he said: “The brevity of life. How short it is.” We are here today and could be gone tomorrow. Unlike what alcohol commercials falsely advertise that Hell will be some great, grand party. Gross yes – grand no. It will not have bikers, babes and beer in Hell and actually HEAVEN not Hell will be the greatest party of all time. My private prayer since elementary school was to bring as many people to the Party as possible. Since I knew that life was short, my swing at bat was minimal and time was running out this at times was both a burden and a blessing.

The Bible reminds us repeatedly to “REDEEM THE TIME.” When I learned that God loved me it enabled me to risk rejection and reach out loving others. It allowed me to be a friend and to serve others (not waiting for others to serve me). It also allowed me to dare to do great things. Not for my sake personally but for God’s glory. My life at bat has had its share of strike outs and even “fouled” a few off but thanks to my faith in Christ and God’s forgiveness it has allowed me to SWING FOR THE FENCE. As of late “audacious faith” has become a coined phrase and I love it but I’ve been living that for a long time and countless Christians before me. We find a boldness when bathed in the Bible. Arrogance depends on self but CONFIDENCE depends on God. Knowing that I could be GOING enabled me to make the most of my tenure.

Billy Graham said “I am just a Western Union messenger boy delivering a TELEGRAM of God’s love to the door of humanity.” When I placed by faith in Christ my name was SIGNED in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Salvation is eternal and I am SEALED forever in His care. Accepting His sacrifice on the cross DELIVERED me from death to life with Him. This life that was loaned to me for a short period on Earth and I knew even as a kid no longer belonged to me but Him. Like that Stevie Wonder classic: “SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED – I’m YOURS!”

Michael English’s rendetion of “THE KING IS COMING” has been the private anthem of my mental reel playing non-stop in my mind. Because Christ is coming or I was going I was ready to stand on the Rock and Roll with my Redeemer. It is liberating to know God’s love. We no longer need man’s approval when we are stamped FIRST CLASS in the rich, red blood of JESUS. I knew life was short and at times sweet but like all library books I would eventually be recalled and like a letter be mailed back to its Author RETURN TO SENDER.