No man knows his time.

Why isn't the cruise ship leaving port? It is now after the time we were all to be back on the ship and past the departure time. If I were late boarding, what would the ship do? I wonder who lost track of time and didn't return yet?

All these questions and more were running through my mind as we waited for departure from our port of call on our Alaska cruise. It was about an hour later that the captain spoke over the intercom informing us of four missing passengers and a short time later that they were on one of the flight excursions and the plane sent out a distress call and went down. Search crews were dispatched and there was hope that our passengers would be found. The next morning around 7 am, the captain informed us that the four passengers and the pilot's lives were lost in this crash.

No one knows when his or her time is up on this earth. This was a somber reminder to all on our ship to view our life as precious and each day as a gift from God. The Apostle Paul encourages us to make the most of our time. We do this when we live our lives for Christ and seek to serve Him day by day, hour by hour.

One day, our Lord will call each one of us home and we will have to stand before Him. Those who have placed their faith in the finished work of Christ will be welcomed into glory, those who don't will be ushered to a place of punishment. I am so glad that Jesus took my punishment and I have eternal life.