How Many Shopping Days Are Left?

Richard Thetford

During this holiday season we are constantly reminded each day by those on the radio and on television of how many shopping days are left until Christmas. The reminders are there so we will continue to remember to get those presents before Christmas day sneaks up on us and we find ourselves unprepared.

This got me to thinking about how many shopping days are left in our life? How many days do we have to be ready for death or the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? In reality, this is our final shopping day. Why? Because we don’t know that we will have another day. The apostle Paul wrote: “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thes 5:2). Peter wrote: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Pet 3:10-11). Since we do not know when the Lord will appear again, we better make sure that we are making the appropriate purchases on our last shopping day.

What kind of purchases?

We should be investing in the fruits of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23). We should also be adding to our shopping list and giving all diligence to do as Peter said: “...add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Pet 1:5-7). He goes on to tell us why we should add these things; “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Pet 1:8-10).

We don’t know how many shopping days we have left until our life is over. Therefore, let’s make sure we are perfecting our life toward God and storing up treasures in heaven (Matt 5:48; 6:20).