The Appointment

DateLine (5/4/06 – San Juan, Puerto Rico)

We all have one. Many of us dread the day. Some of us get advance notice, others only a split second. We spend our whole life preparing for it, in fact our life may be an audition for it. It is unavoidable, but we really don’t like to discuss it. The old joke goes there are only two things that are unavoidable; death and taxes. I’m not sure the joke hits the mark, the only sure thing is that we all have an appointment with death.

A few weeks ago I had a routine test performed that had been ordered as a follow-on to my annual physical. I was shocked a few days later when my doctor personally called to discuss the results. It’s never good when the doctor calls. There was something unusual looking that had been spotted on my liver. He didn’t “think” it was serious but a CAT scan was ordered to get a better look. Only thing is it was a couple of weeks before I could make arrangements to get in for the CAT scan and then another weekend before the results was known. I can tell you that during this time I had to consider that my “appointment” was closer than I would like to think.

While I’ll admit that I’m ready to go, I didn’t necessarily want to get on the next bus. As much as I like technology and have benefited from it including my livelihood, I did not have much confidence that technology had a sure fire solution up it’s sleeve. As a matter of fact I learned quickly that when faced with this type of situation we develop a razor focus on those things that we really deem trustworthy. As I spoke with God about my future three things loomed on the horizon; hope, trust, and purpose. I have hope for the future through God; if not in this life then in heaven. I have trust in the providential care of the Father, He’s demonstrated in the past He will give me what I need when I need it. God created me with a purpose in mind; when I have fulfilled that purpose He’ll take me home; not a minute sooner.

The most important question that any of us face is what will become of us after the appointment. It trumps marriage partner, career, relocation, friends, investments, or any other important life decision. Citizens of modern society behave as if we have been granted an exception to the appointment. It is not true, do not be deceived. Ancient man could not escape it’s inevitability, neither will moderns. As it turned out, what the doctors spotted was a relatively common benign congenital defect; good news.

It was a slightly stressful time, but in reality it was a gift from God. Ever so often God punches through the buzz around us and speaks truth. When God speaks, it’s like the fog lifts for a few minutes. With the fog gone we can see our life as it really is. When this happens the realty that we do have the choice to mess it up is unavoidable. God, I ain’t much but whatever it is that you will, have your way.

“ . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27