Today I have been reading Paul's letter to the Ephesians. I love that letter very much. I think it is best letter he ever wrote to the covenant communities. He gives us revelatory insight in the mystery of Christ and the eternal plan and purpose of God in the first three chapters and takes us down to earth in the last three chapters where he is teaching us the practical outworking of being in Christ and being a member of the new covenant community.

Earlier today we had several text messages from friends in Norway asking us to pray for Andreas Salvesen, a young believer in our covenant community in Bergen. He had been on a mountain trip with his school class when his heart stopped beating and he was taken to hospital by helicopter. We were praying for him and engaged our Indian friends in prayer as well. Then we got the sad message that the doctors could not save his life. He was only sixteen years old when he went to be with the Lord. He has gone to a better place, but his family and all his friends will miss him.
Because of this incident, the exhortation of Paul to be very careful of how we live, making the most of every opportunity, became very relevant to me. I have know Andreas from his birth. He was born with a heart problem and the doctors gave him no future, but God saved him and gave him sixteen wonderful years. He was such a happy and confident boy. He was sharing his testimonies in the congregation as well as praying fervently and even prophesying from young age.
Andreas lived totally committed to Jesus Christ. When he began at high school in the autumn he started straight away a Christian union and was a bold witness for Christ. He was aware of the weakness of his heart and he told one of his friends just a few days ago that the heart could stop beating at any time. But he lived life to the full and made the most of every opportunity.
I thank God for Andreas and the sixteen exciting years God gave him by his grace despite the predictions of the doctors. I as remember him I am fully aware of that none of us know what the future will bring. Each and every one of us are only one heart-beat away from the next world – eternity.
Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil and we don't know what they will bring. Let us seize the moment and do the will of God! Today! Now!