So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. John 19:17-18

There were three men who were crucified that day but the one in the middle is central to all of history. At least one of the others are also in heaven, as we say, by the skin of his teeth.

You will find there are those who make a “death bed confession.” Of course we all know that we’re not guaranteed another breath, but some decide to wait until the very last moment to repent, having lived a wild and unrestrained life prior to that. Then when they are close to death, they desperately want to get things right with God. They get it; they truly get it and regret all the pain they caused others and themselves.

The reality, though, is that people you see walking around are closer to death than they think they are. I’m not at all trying to be morbid, just trying to put it all into perspective. For instance, a close friend of mine passed away about 18 months ago before his 49th birthday. No one had a clue he was this close to death but after he finished playing basketball with some friends, he had a massive heart attack. Most people who knew him was in shock. I still am.

Scripture tells us we need to be ready to give an account for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15). The people you and I meet today are still one heartbeat away from eternity.

So are we.

How should that change the way we think and act? Should it?