Matthew 8:28-29

When [Jesus] arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him.  They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted.  ”Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

I know a man who has his coffin picked out, purchased and sitting in the corner of his office.  Every day, he looks at it and is reminded that his days are numbered.  He won’t live forever and he knows it.  If he’s going to reach his goal and realize his vision, he must make every minute count.

I don’t have a coffin in my office, but maybe I should.  I wonder how much more focused my life would be if I had a constant reminder of my mortality staring me in the face.  I wonder how much harder I would push if life didn’t seem so…well…permanent.

I wonder how Church would be different if we were as aware of the appointed time as the demons are.

I suspect we would spend less time having potlucks and more time feeding the homeless…  Less time doing crafts and more time building houses…  Less time sitting on pews and more time standing on streets…

Don’t lose sight of the appointed time, no matter how busy church camp, VBS, choir practice and Sunday School might get.  In the midst of committees meetings, board meetings and staff meetings, don’t forget that there is, indeed, a bigger picture.

It’s time to install a coffin in the foyer.