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Living with Wisdom: What If Today Was Your Last? Stories That Prove to Us the Unpredictability of Life’s Journey
"So teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90:12
No one likes to think about death, and many of us rarely do. We go through each day as if we have endless tomorrows, often forgetting that today could be our last breath—or worse, the last time we see a loved one. We make plans with friends, schedule events, watch shows, and go on vacations, all the while overlooking the reality that the days of those who love us most are also numbered.
God instructs us to "number our days" in Psalm 90:12. The broader theme about living with an awareness of the shortness of life and using our time wisely is found throughout Scripture. Other verses, such as James 4:14 ("What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.") and Ephesians 5:15-16 ("Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."), echo the same sentiment of Psalm 90:12 by encouraging mindfulness about how we spend our time.
While I was reading this verse this morning multiple stories came to mind:
After bravely battling cancer for years and finally receiving a clean bill of health, a woman tragically lost her life in a car accident just days later. Friends and family mourned her, struggling with the cruel irony of her hard-fought victory against cancer ending in such an unexpected and heartbreaking way.
Job 14:5: “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
Countless stories from 9/11 in New York reveal how lives were spared due to seemingly small, unplanned events. Some had last-minute changes in plans, faced car troubles, or felt an urge to avoid work, while others made decisions to visit family or take a different route, ultimately saving their lives.
These twists of fate are both fascinating and humbling, reminding us of the fragile and unpredictable nature of life. (I'll provide a link at the bottom of this article where you can read more about these extraordinary stories.)
And then there's the story of my grandfather, who saw an angel on the day he died. It's a rare and profound story with invaluable lessons.
My grandparents, like many older couples, slept in separate rooms. I can't recall grandpas exact age at the time, but he was in his late 70s. My granny always prepared a Southern breakfast and coffee for him, as they lived a humble and quiet life in Louisiana. But that morning, at the breakfast table, something was different. Grandpa seemed lost in thought, contemplating something deeply. Finally, he broke the silence and said, "Jean, you won't believe what happened," shaking his head in disbelief. Granny, busy preparing his coffee, replied, "Well, tell me."
He hesitated, struggling to find the words. He repeated, "You're not gonna believe it," several times, clearly trying to muster the courage to share what he had experienced. Finally, he looked at her and said, "When I woke up this morning, Jean, there was an angel at the end of my bed with its arms stretched out toward me."
Granny was amazed, and as Grandpa finally got the words out, he seemed to relax, as if a weight had been lifted. They talked about it briefly, and then went about their day as usual—except for Grandpa. Something had changed within him. That encounter gave him a different perception of his life that day. The angel's visit seemed to have touched him deeply and perhaps he had a quiet understanding that his journey was nearing its end.
Let me give you a clearer picture of my grandpa. He was a very clean, quiet man with a big, tight belly. As a young girl, I thought if I poked it, it would pop. My grandparents lived just a few streets from their small Baptist church. Growing up in a Full Gospel church, I noticed the contrast. Southern Baptist churches are often filled with older folks, their heads graying, clinging to a traditional music and mindsets. My grandpa fit perfectly into that scene—humble, reserved, and deeply faithful, though in a quieter, more traditional manner.
Living close to the church, Grandpa would walk there on pleasant days whenever the doors opened because he was in charge of the music ministry. He took on this role with dedication, ensuring that the sound system and all the audio equipment were set up and functioning properly for every service. The congregation mostly sang old hymns, often off-key and always out of rhythm, but their focus wasn’t on performance. They came to worship and honor God, love each other, and be part of a close-knit community.
1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
As a younger person new to the faith, I used to view Grandpa's church as rather boring and his life as excessively disciplined. I didn't fully appreciate the significance of his commitment to managing the music ministry at what I considered one of the least dynamic worship services. It seemed to pale in comparison to my vibrant Full Gospel church, with its large choir, lively band, and occasional appearances on Christian networks.
Granny and Grandpa didn’t live in a lavish house. I often heard gunshots from just a few streets away, and he drove the same old truck throughout the time I knew him. Yet, despite his humble surroundings, Grandpa maintained his truck and his lawnmower with the same meticulous care he gave to his faith. He was dedicated to ensuring that the old, barely functional equipment at church worked to the best of its ability.
What Grandpa did wasn’t for his own glory; it was for God’s glory. In a world where many in the church are idolized and glorified by fellow believers, Grandpa lived a life that sought no recognition or applause. He didn’t have the spotlight, the praise of the masses, or a platform to showcase his faith. He didn’t need it. His quiet, consistent service in that small Baptist church wasn’t about making a name for himself—it was about honoring the name of God.
Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
The encounter with the angel at the end of his bed that morning deeply affected Grandpa. It stayed on his mind throughout the day. He felt a strong urge to reconnect, so he picked up the phone and reached out to a few old friends he hadn't spoken to in years. While Grandpa was making his phones calls, Granny had darted off to Walmart to get some supplies for home.
Grandpa spent the day reconnecting, reminiscing, and sharing old stories with friends, and had a heartfelt conversation with his son, expressing their love for each other. The angel's visit seemed to give him a renewed sense of urgency and appreciation for his relationships. Though he never mentioned the encounter, he felt a strong compulsion to reach out to loved ones. Meanwhile, Granny, who had once worked as a Walmart greeter, took her time chatting with everyone she knew while filling her cart.
Eventually, Grandpa grew impatient waiting for Granny to return home, so he called her and said, "Jean, are you still at Walmart? You need to come home." Granny, in her endearing Spanish-Mexican way, expressed mild irritation at his request but hurried back home.
When Granny got home, they settled into their cozy living room, where she filled Grandpa in on her day and the people she had seen at Walmart. She mentioned that she was going to change and would be right back. Grandpa, feeling tired, had positioned himself on the couch, ready for a nap.
While Granny was changing, she heard a sudden thud. Rushing to see what had happened, she found Grandpa on the floor with a small amount of blood coming from his mouth. Alarmed, Granny quickly grabbed the phone and dialed 911 for help.
The paramedics arrived and worked diligently to revive Grandpa. While they were attending to him, Granny called me. Despite the gravity of the situation, she was surprisingly calm—though shaking, there was a steady composure in her voice. She said, "Amanda, I think Grandpa just died; they are working on him now." I remember being struck by how controlled her emotions were, as I had expected a much different reaction.
I quickly gathered my three boys and drove to the hospital. By the time we arrived at the ER, Grandpa had been pronounced dead. He was with God, whom he had served quietly, faithfully, and humbly for all those years.
The fact that Grandpa awoke to an angel that morning not only brought comfort to us, affirming that it was God's timing, but it also revealed a sweet, overlooked, gift from God. That angel's presence seemed to nudge Grandpa to recognize the value and importance of his remaining days and in his case, hours.
How many people can say they were nudged by heaven to reach out to their loved ones and express their love and appreciation before they passed away? Grandpa had the rare opportunity to make those heartfelt connections on the very day he died.
This scripture, "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12), IS God's nudge to us all. It reminds us to recognize the fleeting nature of our time on earth and to live each day with intention and wisdom. I learned a big lesson that has stayed with me since that day. I used to dismiss Grandpa’s humble Baptist church as lacking compared to the polished worship of mainstream praise and worship services. I even critiqued its simpler setup and less dynamic style, though I kept those thoughts to myself. In my ignorance, I failed to see the true worth of the seemingly ordinary.
Grandpa, in the world’s eyes, was just a simple, humble man. Yet, he lived a life of quiet faithfulness, managing the church's music ministry with dedication. His life was not marked by grand stages or high-profile acclaim. Instead, it was marked by genuine, humble devotion. The angel’s visit to Grandpa revealed the depth of his unheralded faith and the true significance of his simple acts of love and service.
Grandpa’s life reminds us that the greatest honor we can receive is from God, not from people.
The true measure of faithfulness isn’t found in the size of our platform or the number of our followers, but in the quiet, often unseen acts of service done for the glory of God alone. In the end, it wasn’t the grandeur of his deeds that mattered, but the heart behind them—a heart wholly devoted to God.
In the end, it was through the grace, love, and mercy of God that an angel was sent to take Grandpa home. The angel’s appearance was not only to guide him home but also to grant Grandpa the precious gift of time to say his goodbyes.
God comforted Granny through the angel’s visitation, providing her with a profound sense of peace. At the same time, He humbled me by revealing what true faithfulness looks like and how it is rewarded. God showed me the immense value He placed on Grandpa’s dedication to the small church, and it profoundly changed my perspective on what it means to serve faithfully. Grandpa’s work, done quietly and without fanfare, was deeply valued by God, and this revelation shifted my understanding of faith and devotion in a powerful way.
If you feel that your service to God is insignificant, mundane, or lacking because you compare yourself to mega-church pastors or famous Christian bands, please know that God sees and values every act of service. Whether you arrive early to open the church doors, serve food at events, clean up after a service, visit a member in the hospital, or offer even the smallest of prayers—know that your efforts are seen and treasured by God.
Every act of faithfulness,
no matter how small it seems,
contributes to His work and is honored by Him."So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Hebrews 6:10 reminds us of a great truth: “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Our days are numbered, and each one is an opportunity to reflect God’s grace and to contribute to His kingdom. In the end, it is this faithful stewardship—seen and unseen—that God remembers and rewards, affirming that our labor in love is never in vain.
The stories of the woman who overcame cancer only to be tragically taken in a car accident, the countless lives altered or ended in the 9/11 tragedy, and Grandpa’s final day with the angel's visitation have one thing in common: none of them planned for their last day to be their final one. Reflecting on their stories, we are prompted to consider how differently we might live if we were aware that today could be our last.
How would our priorities shift?
How might we be more present with loved ones and extend kindness to strangers?
To make today count, we can start by embracing the small actions that have significant impacts. A simple phone call to reconnect with an old friend, a heartfelt message to a loved one, or a kind gesture to a stranger can make a world of difference. And sometimes the greatest way to love someone, is to simply forgive them as if it never happened.
Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
From the day of our birth to the day of our passing, we are called to make the most of the time we are given. By focusing on what we can control—our actions, attitudes, and how we use our time—we honor the life we have been given and fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
In doing so, we align ourselves with God’s plan and make each day count, knowing that while the length of our lives is in His hands, the way we live each day is our gift back to Him. This perspective allows us to approach life with a sense of peace and fulfillment, knowing that our efforts to live well are not in vain but are part of a greater, divine purpose.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father,
I come before You in Jesus' name, grateful for Your Word and Your constant reminders on how to live life. I ask that You guide us in numbering our days more wisely, so we may gain a heart of wisdom. Help us understand the value of time and live each day with purpose and grace. Lead us in making wise choices and using our time to grow in faith and love.
If we stray from Your path or act recklessly, correct us quickly before we face regret too great to bear. Remind us to bring our emotions, pressures, and anxieties to You first, so You can take control and guide us where we need to be. Teach us not to take one another for granted.
When situations don’t make sense, help us release them into Your hands, freeing ourselves from giving the enemy a foothold. Grant us wisdom to understand that sometimes it is better to forgive without full understanding rather than insist on knowing everything before letting go. Help us to forgive as if it never happened, striving to love our family, our communities, and to overlook the faults of others. Teach us to love like Jesus.
In His name, I pray,
Amen.
© 2024 Amanda Allen. All rights reserved.
Please share this message with a hurting world and respectfully direct readers back to Kingdom Revelations. www.KingdomRevelations.com
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