"Mmm... Donuts." --Homer Simpson

"Not Knowing."  That could be the title of this post, if it weren't for the sake of continuity.  For starters, I'm writing and "not knowing" what it is I need to say.  However, when I read my Bible and the Lord says to me, "Sit. Write."  I do it. 

There are a lot of things that we frequently don't know.  We don't know what we're having for dinner.  We don't know what we're going to wear.  We don't know if we'll be sick for two days next week or if we'll be healthy all week.  It could even be something bigger.  Like, for instance, we don't know the impact we're having on our children.  We don't know if our personal witness is having any effect.  Or we don't know if the advice we've given was good or bad. 

The truth is that in those cases, "not knowing" is not that important.  We aren't supposed to know some things.  Not knowing will not affect the outcome.  We can worry ourselves into anemia, and we still will not affect the outcome.  God knows.  That is enough. 

So where should "not knowing" really have an impact on us? 

Chris, Jon, Cami, Wade, Leslie, my mom, my dad, Tina, Kayla, Vida (well, pretty much her whole family), Lynn, John Mark, Matthew, Madeline, Byron, Jonathan, Charlie, Cindy, Inez, Jenni, David Spade...  These are the names of people that came to mind.  Every name here represents a lost mother, wife, father, brother, sister, spouse, daughter, son, and even best friend. 

We sit this close to death every day.  "Not knowing" if we even have years ahead of us to make an impact.  "Not knowing" if we have ONE year, let alone several.  Speak to any one of these people and I guarantee you they can tell you how real death is, and how close it is to us.  We do not know if we have the next ten minutes, or even the next ten seconds. 

"Not knowing" should make us want to relish every moment.  "Not knowing" should awaken us to how short life is and how real death is.  "Not knowing" should make us want to be the hands and feet of Jesus all the time!  Not only that, but the eyes and ears and mouth as well.  We should be going and telling and giving and loving others the way Christ has loved us.  If we know that we have received God's forgiveness and have a place that He has prepared for us, we should be shouting it to the world! 

What we do NOT know, should motivate us to spread the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ.
What we DO know, should motivate us to spread the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ.

"And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ.  He is the only true God, and He is eternal life."  -- I John 5:20 (NLT)