From the Home Place

January 19, 2026

Good morning all. A cool 15 degrees here at 4 a.m., headed for a high of 38 with wind gusts to match the high.

This morning, I visited with the Lord for an hour or so and then came to this computer, continuing to pray that the Holy Spirit would let me know what I was to write about. I checked our emails and noticed that we had no less than five messages that started with the words, “Last Chance!” Each ad was promoting that today would be my last opportunity to get in on their biggest and best sale of the year.

After praying with a family that their husband, dad, grandfather and great grandfather could pass from this world into the arms of Jesus, the words “Last Chance” really struck me this morning. The man we prayed for at 5:30 Saturday afternoon, walked into the presence of Jesus at 11:30 that evening. A couple of months earlier, I had prayed with that man as he committed the remainder of his life to Jesus. He was ready to exit this world and enter into the next through accepting the amazing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. I had to stop and praise God that I had taken the opportunity to share salvation in Jesus with that man before he passed

However, I must confess that way too often I have not been obedient to tell others about Jesus, not knowing that my last visit with them was my “Last Chance” to do so. Very early this morning the Spirit of the Living God and I began our visit with me confessing my slothfulness in not telling others about Jesus when I had the opportunity. I very much appreciate His reminder that I need to not let any more opportunities pass by, for we never know when that “Last Chance” will be.

Hopefully, we all realize that today might be our last chance to tell someone, “I love you.” Today might be our “Last Chance” to tell someone of their great value within our life. Today might be the “Last Chance” we have to be a blessing to someone else. Today might be our “Last Chance” to tell someone about the need of salvation in Christ Jesus. Today might be our “Last Chance” to live here on earth.

You see my friends, none of us know when our last chances will come but come they will. And 99.9% of the time those last chances will come as a total surprise to us and those around us. So, may we each take the “First Chance” we get to really live, give and tell. If any of us knew that today would be our “Last Chance” to do any of the things mentioned above, we would probably go for it! Well, it just may be, so how about we live today to its full potential? Seize every moment! Grasp every opportunity! As the old country-western song said, may we each “Live life like you are dying.”

Because the simple truth is, we are all in the dying process. None of us who are alive today, will ever be as young as we were yesterday. Unless we make serious changes, today will probably pass by as just another day; yet this could very well be our last day.

If you have never committed your life to living for and with Jesus Christ, do so before your “Last Chance” comes to you. Admit that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and that Jesus is the only person able to provide forgiveness and eternal life in the presence of God, John 14:6. And if you know Jesus as Savior, if the Holy Spirit has been prompting you to tell someone about salvation in Christ Jesus, do so today. This could possibly be your “Last Chance” to do so. Pray for boldness, for the softening of a heart and walk obediently through this day!

Seizing the opportunity with you, Neal