Can Anyone Slow Down My Life? It’s Passing Too Quickly!

By Greg Musselman

We are often reminded about how quickly life passes. Milestones such as birthdays or anniversaries and even the deaths of friends and loved ones can be times to reflect.

I've recently had times of reflection. It's been thirty years since I graduated from high school; it's been almost thirty years since I did my first radio broadcast in Weyburn, Saskatchewan; it's been twenty-five years since I came to work as a sportscaster in Edmonton. My parents celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary (way to go Mom and Dad!); my middle daughter started high school; and my youngest is now in junior high. Life just keeps moving on, and it seems to go faster as you get older.

Where have the years gone? This question really struck me when I attended the thirty-year reunion for my high school in Coquitlam, BC this past Saturday. During the weekend, talk of retirement came up with two of my closest and longest friends. Retirement! I'm too young to be even thinking about such things. Both of my friends said that they want to spend their final years by the ocean or maybe by a lake.

While there is nothing wrong with talking about retirement, it's just not something that I've spent a lot of time thinking about. But when I do think about it, I consider what Pastor and author John Piper said at a Winnipeg mission's conference to challenge his listeners: "Do you really want to spend your final years on a sail boat and collecting shells?"

John was trying to say that there are more exciting and important things that we should be doing with our older years than leisure activities--such as working for God's Kingdom.

As we get older, all of us need to slow down. It's just the way it is--our bodies need more rest. But as followers of Christ, we can keep making an impact until our last breath. It's really the only reason we remain in this world. Just think what you can do with all of your time!

It's a nice thought: a beautiful house on the ocean and just taking it easy, but to be honest, that doesn't get me all that excited. I'm more excited about new ways I am able to serve God. And what really gets me excited is that, after this life is over, I'll get to spend eternity with the God of the universe.

Can you imagine what that will be like? Here's what Jesus said: "In my Father's house there are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

By the way, Jesus told us a few verses later how to get to the Father's House. He said," I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"(John 14:6).

In order to have the assurance in heaven I have, you must "Confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord: and believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."(Romans 10:9,10) If you have, you have so much to look forward to... and work for.

I don't dwell on retirement. We were all given just one life to live and as long as I have breath, I want to use it as effectively as possible. The Bible provides the language for all of us who take time to reflect: "As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone" (Psalm 103:15,16).

While driving up to our annual The Voice of the Martyrs conference in Edmonton last March, my good friend and colleague Glenn Penner said to me that he hoped we would grow old together at VOMC. I like the thought of that.

Before I'm gone, I've lots to do, and so do you! So keep up the good work.

(Greg Musselman is an Associate Communications Officer for The Voice of the Martyrs).