Today is the last day of 2020. This year has been filled with many unexpected circumstances, which have been difficult in many ways, but have also reminded us of important truths like the fact that we are not in control. God is the only one who holds the future. The bible says, "You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer."² While we cannot control the circumstances that arise in life, nor how long we will live on this earth, there is something that we can control... how we live the life God has given us.

Hezekiah was given a message from God that told him he was going to die, and the instructions God gave him were to set his affairs in order. The first thing that Hezekiah did when he heard this was to pray. He reminded God of how he had served him faithfully and had done what was pleasing to him. He then broke down and wept. He knew that God had the last word and left the outcome to God. In the following verses we see how God answers with mercy by giving him fifteen more years of life.

Unlike Hezekiah, we don't know the day or hour of our death. The point of today's topic is not to make us think of how or when we will die, but rather how we will choose to live the days God gives us on this earth. God has given us family and friends who have taught us how to practice the fruits of the Spirit. He has allowed us to experience pain and suffering so that we could learn how to trust God and rest in His unfailing promises. He has given us opportunity after opportunity to show compassion and forgiveness when others have failed us. The sad thing is that many times we choose to live in bitterness and anger clinging on to the hurts of our past instead of embracing the tools God has given us to live in peace with others and experience the joy of the Lord.

If we were to die today and stand before God, what would be the account of our life that we give him? Would we be able to say the words of Hezekiah when he said, "Remember, oh Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly always doing what pleases you."³ As we get ready to welcome a new year tomorrow, I want to encourage you to take a moment to evaluate your life. Are you loving others well? Have you forgiven those who have hurt you? Have you asked for forgiveness where necessary? What affairs do we need to set in order? God has given us today, so let us make the most of it and choose actions that will please God.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I pray that you would allow me to set my affairs in order today. Give me the courage to speak truth, ask for and give forgiveness, love generously, and show patience and compassion to others as you have shown me. Allow me to live with no regrets. That when you call me home, that I would be ready and be able to say the words of Hezekiah. I choose to be faithful to you and please you with the life you have given me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' name, amen."

1. 2 Kings 20:1-2 (NLT).

2. Job 14:5 (NLT).

3. 2 Kings 20:3 (NLT).