How often do you wake up and think, “This could be my last day here on earth!” Probably not too often. I would guess none of the children in Uvalde thought that as their school year was coming to an end. Probably none of the people killed the week before last in Buffalo thought that when they went to the supermarket.

I sometimes have that thought. It is not a morbid thing. I realize that I have already been blessed with a lot of years here on this earth. I am grateful for the life I have lived. And I will take whatever time I have left here and try to enjoy it with my family and friends.

The reality, however, is that I am now the same age my father was when he went to see Jesus face to face. And his father did not make it to 70.  That was part of my rationale for retiring when I did. While I will continue to serve my Lord and His church in various ways, I no longer do so full time. That allows me time to travel with my wife, spend time with my children and grandchildren, offer myself as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Lutheran Disaster Response, serve on couple of Boards for ministries and just have fun building things and making stuff around our place.

My approach to life is to have the same attitude Paul wrote about to the believers in Philippi: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). I was blessed to be born into a home where Jesus was in control. My parents made sure I was baptized so I could receive God’s washing and let the Spirit work in my life. I was taught about what Jesus did for me. His death paid for my sin. His life was lived for me. His resurrection is my victory over death. His Ascension to the right hand of the Father assures me that He is interceding for me still. I know I am His, and because of what He did, I have forgiveness now, life now with that conviction, and life forever with Him.

Today is Ascension Day. The disciples who spent time with Jesus before He was crucified and then after He rose from the dead stood watching as Jesus was taken up into heaven. They were assured He would come back. Because of what they had seen and experienced, they lived for Him. While I did not see what they saw, I have heard what they heard, and the Spirit has enabled me to believe this Good News.

This is why I strive to live the new life to which He has called me. It is my grateful response to everything Jesus did for me.