Have you had that talk?*

Palms 90:10 "the days of our years are threescore years and 10; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Today was the funeral for James Oliver Arnold, age 51. I did not know him personally. I knew his Dad and his mother since I have been down here. I knew some of his Uncles and Aunts from going to church. He was a father, husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew, friend, business partner, etc. He was still a young man. I am not sure when he got sick. But he knew for a short while unless God did a miracle his days were short. He knew because of his sickness that his days were up. I remember years ago in 1984 a dear friend who was 3 days and three months younger than me was called home. I remember thinking at the time that at the age of this friend who was only a little younger than I, wouldn't have been ready. I had dinner with this friend the evening before he died. I had just recently recommitted my life and thought at his age I wouldn't have been ready. He was killed in an instant in a traffic accident, no warning. None of us knows the number of our days. James Oliver Arnold knew his days were short, but still, he didn't know his last day on earth would be 12/15/2012. He'd had a conversation with God and he was ready when God called him home. My friend James Lee was also ready when he was taken without warning. James Lee didn't know ahead of time that his days were so short when I talked with him the evening before he flew away. It is so sad for a parent to have to bury their child. In this case, it was the second child of Willie Arnold that was laid to rest. Willie is still strong and in good health, but two sons have already taken flight before him. Barbara works with elderly who we know have a short time on this earth. Yet more than once I have heard her say, I could still go before them. And it is true because none of us knows the number of our days. Perhaps it will be the fourscore years the Bible talks about in this verse. We need to be ready, our sins forgiven at any time. All it takes is a short prayer, Jesus forgive me for my sins. Come into my heart, clean me up from the inside out. That is all it takes to start on this journey to have a friend till the end. He will never leave us nor forsake us. II Timothy 1:12B "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." I have that assurance, I have had that talk with Jesus. I have accepted him as my Lord and Saviour. When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there. Be ye also ready for no man knoweth the day nor the hour when Jesus will return for us. James did not live a perfect life, but he was ready at the end of his short 51 years. God bless, LVZ.