A Near Miss (James 4:14)

Nearly every day I drive, I have a near miss with another car. I cling to the importance of defensive driving, assuming that the other driver does not see me. The incidents may be a car barreling around a blind corner in a parking lot, a lane change into the same lane to which I am changing, or a distracted driver attempting to open her dashboard while driving. This latter incident happened two days ago. The driver was literally leaning all the way over onto the passenger’s side seat, fiddling with something in the dash board and not realizing that as she leaned over, she was turning her steering wheel to right. Her car crossed over into my lane, narrowly missing me. The entire episode unfolded in a matter of seconds and I would have been hit had I not honked my horn alerting her to what was happening.

Some people have dangerous jobs like law enforcement or military, when every moment of their lives could be their last. If I worked in such an occupation or was about to embark on a dangerous task, I would definitely be mindful of the imminent possibility of death. There is a 1 in 600 odds of getting killed in a car accident, far higher than the risk of an airline crash or getting struck by lightning. But because driving is an everyday routine activity, I have been lulled into a sense of complacency. These recent near misses have reminded me how, in a brief instant of time, my life could be ended while engaged in a very routine activity.

...whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

James 4:14 (ESV)

Am I prepared for death at any moment? Every morning, my prayers acknowledge that today could be my last day on this earth. I may die or Jesus will return to earth and rapture all believers into heaven. In either scenario,  I will be in the presence of Jesus Christ. Knowing this, I want to make every day, every moment, count for God.

The near misses have reminded me that my time on this earth is brief when compared to eternity. But every blessing, every crown I will receive in Heaven is dependent upon how I live my life on earth.

Lord Jesus, help me to keep my life on target for You. Don’t let me be a near miss.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.