“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13–14
Paul the apostle lived with urgency, and the work of his life is still perpetuating the Gospel all over the world. History tells us he never even made it to age 63, but yet here we are, 2000 years later, reading the words God inspired him to write!
It’s encouraging to know the stories of other born again believers whose lives were pivotal because they lived with a passion for Jesus. For example, in 1956, missionaries Jim Elliot (age 28) and Nate Saint (age 32) were speared to death by warriors from the Waodani (Huaorani) tribe in Ecuador as they sought to bring them the Gospel. Their deaths shocked the world, but the story did not end in tragedy. Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, and Nate’s sister, Rachel, later went to live among the very tribe that killed their loved ones. Through their witness, many Waodani—including Mincaye, one of the men who helped spear the missionaries—were born again. Nate Saint’s son, Steve, later formed a close father–son bond with Mincaye, who baptized him, helped raise his children, and traveled the world with him to share their story of forgiveness.
Despite what the world might call “ordinary,” people like the Elliots and the Saints—and the disciples before them in the Bible—prove that ordinary lives ignite an extraordinary heritage when surrendered to God’s Divine purpose.
Most of Jesus’s disciples lived far beyond the average lifespan of their era—often into their 60s and 70s, with John reaching his 90s—surviving persecution, disease, exile, imprisonment, and brutal martyrdom. While the typical man in the first century died between ages 35 and 40, these men lived with a resilience that made no sense apart from God’s calling on their life. Their strength didn’t come from comfort or safety, but from God’s divine mission that carried them further than their human ability could attain. They lived to preach Christ, plant churches, inscribe God’s Word, disciple, and evangelize. They “turned the world upside down.”
Even today, we are inspired by them! What a gift to embrace each day when we have the promise of God:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Vance Havner (1901–1986) was a fiery North Carolina preacher who spent his life proclaiming the Gospel and encouraging wholehearted surrender to Jesus Christ. His plainspoken wisdom jolted complacent believers, calling them away from lukewarm religion and back to authentic, passionate discipleship. He warned that many Christians drift through life, assuming they have more time, never stepping into the call God placed on them. These great words are so true today:
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends too soon, but that we wait so long to begin.”
God’s Word commands us:
“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
Most of us assume we will have “later” but God’s Word urges us to live like today might be our last day. Let’s wake up and ask God to download His Spirit into us, to give us His sense of urgency for the spiritual warfare that is all around us, to understand the Divine calling we have, and to seize the day like it is our last!
Prayer
Lord, thank you for this day. Fill my soul with a sense of urgency for the work You have given me. May all I do be done for Your glory today. Fill me with Your passionate love for the lost. By Your Spirit, may I walk wisely, boldly, and obediently today—redeeming every moment for Your glory. Give me clarity to see Your will, courage to act on it, and a heart that loves You so much that Your work comes first. May I live the life You have planned for me in wholehearted and passionate obedience—just as You lived for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
