Our life is on the railroad bound for eternity. It does not matter whether you are a Christian or a person who does not believe in eternity; we are in reality on the ‘TRAIN OF LIFE” headed for eternity from the moment we were conceived in our mother’s womb.
The journey will take us around many bends, over high places and through low and sometimes deep valleys. We never know what lies ahead. All we know is what we are experiencing at this moment is the “TRAIN OF LIFE” as it speeds down the rails toward God. We will never travel on the rails of yesterday. It will always be on the railroad of today.
We may want for train to slow down as we grow older – it seems that time does pass more quickly as we grow older in life. We may even ask God to intervene and give us more time on the crust of this planet. However, time is not in our hands, it is all in the hands of a great big God!
King David knew his life was in the hands of Almighty God. He understood a personal relationship with God was the most important issue in life. Here is what he wrote about life:
Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Psalm 119:73
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. Psalm 143:5
I credit a cousin of mine for the title of this writing. She lost her daughter this past year in a tragic incident when her daughter and son-in-law were on a vacation from doing mission work. Her daughter was swept out to sea in a riptide and her life was gone within moments.
Here is what she wrote that touched my heart and spirit. I knew immediately I was to write on this subject and post on my blog site. I asked her for permission to share this with you. She immediately agreed and believes it will touch someone’s life during a time of crisis.
“I woke with a message this morning about the “TRAIN OF LIFE” – it was very touching. Made me stop and think about my daughter. We were on this train of life together for many precious years. Thank you Lord! She was a precious little lady to have on our journey. As she traveled along the path of life she knew her purpose. She came to know Jesus at the age of almost six years of age and began sharing Him with her teacher and it never stopped until her last day. God lifted her from the troubled waters and into her eternal home. Thank you Lord for this beautiful ride together. I have so many loving family members and friends remaining on this train of life with me. Please Lord help me to love and embrace them in the way I should, to show your love. To all my family and friends, I never know when I will leave this train but when I do, remember that I love you with all my heart.”
My friend, if this does not touch your heart I pray you will bow your head and invite Christ into your heart. This mother also knows the purpose we are all called to upon this earth: Worship God and serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as our self.
Upon reflecting on her words, I paused to think about writing this blog and about the good times I have been privileged to enjoy in life. The journey has not been easy at times. There are twists and turns along the railroad of life. Sometimes pain grips our hearts like the incident that took the life of my second cousin who I never met. Personally, I lost a grandson at the age of three. I still have pain in my heart for my daughter and her husband as well as my wife. I have looked death in the face on four different occasions and God has intervened and spared my life for such a time as this.
Friends, we never know the hour or moment that God will reach down and gather us into eternity. He knows every person by name. In fact, He has your name written on the palms of His hands. Here is what the prophet Isaiah wrote:
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. Isaiah 49:16
However, the verse that precedes verse sixteen is this:
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.
My daughter includes little Noah in her posts and thoughts as if he were right there with her today. She cannot forget; neither will my cousin. But God is a great big God and He loves us with unlimited love. He gives us grace and mercy every day we are on this planet. We have much to be thankful for.
Here is how my cousin finished her post: “God bless you with a year filled with peace and joy from above. May He give you strength and courage to face this year and all the unknowns ahead by placing your life in His hands. Being in the hands of the Lord is the only safe place to be. Thank you for riding this train of life with me…let’s enjoy every moment. Love to all.”
I could not say it better. Blessings!
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