Dennis Abernathy

If you know much about exercising by running and jogging, you probably remember the name of Jim Fixx. If you keep up with the diet, books, and there are many, you may recall a physician named Stuart Berger. If you are familiar with Prevention magazine you probably know the name J. I. Rodale.

Well, what is interesting about these men is that they all died. Jim Fixx wrote a popular book about the health benefits of running and died of a heart attack at age 52-while he was running. Dr. Stuart Berger wrote a once popular book about nutrition and weigh loss, and died overweigh at age 40. And magazine publisher, and preventive health advocate, J. I. Rodale, died at age 72 while making a television program, shortly after predicting he would live to be 100.

Well, I mention these little oddities to illustrate the fact that none of us have a guarantee on tomorrow. Yes, it’s good to take care of one’s health, and I’m not at all discouraging about that. But even if you can eat all of the right foods and none of the wrong ones, and even if we exercise in just the right way, and even if you become experts on nutrition, it still won’t be a guarantee of tomorrow.

That’s one reason the Bible says the following in Proverbs 27: 1: “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” That’s also one reason people who know they aren’t living the way God wants them to live shouldn’t put off straightening up their lives. The sad truth is that a lot of people who planned to repent and get their lives in order with God before they died have ended up dying before they expected to.

Perhaps thinking about such things, a poet once penned these words:

“Whether we are old or young, not one of us can say

Just when will come to each his final earthly day;

Thus, while this life is ours, Lord, may we now prepare,

So, death may never come and take us unaware.”

My friend, that’s pretty good advice, and my advice to you is not only to think about it, but act upon it, Think on these things.