It is finally 2020. Yes, you made it to the new year!

But not everyone made it. We lost a bunch in 2019 (just like every year).

Peter Mayhew, the man who brought Chewbacca to life in the Star Wars movies, is gone. Chewie “lives on”, and Peter would be the man to thank for introducing us to him, but thank him we cannot.

Eddie Money may have had “Two Tickets to Paradise”, but his life touched down in eternity before 2019 drew to a close. His music is recorded for us to hear, but he is gone.

If you’ve enjoyed the show “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, you have Lee Mendelson to thank. Well, I should say you “had” him. He left us in 2019 also. He did not simply produce the show, but also wrote the words to the song “Christmas Time is Here”. In my mind, I can still hear the children’s voices singing this wonderful piece.

Many others are now gone. Well-knowns like Tim Conway & Doris Day, but also Caroll Spinny who voiced Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch, Russi Taylor the voice of Minnie Mouse and others like them whose names we may not recognize, but whose works we have long loved.

Some new year in the future will begin without us. Will we be ready? Here are three things that help me.

#1) Solomon said not to wait to remember your Creator, but to do it in your youth (Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1). This is the first thing I would encourage everyone to do, regardless of what stage of “youth” you might find yourself in at this very moment; Honor God.

#2) Solomon also said that if we are going to do anything, it will be in this life, so whatever our hands find to do, we should do it with all of our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10)! You have gifts from God. Use them to do good for yourself and others while you can. Actually, this is one of the best ways to remember your Creator, by doing good with what He’s given you.

#3) Talk to people about Jesus and their souls. There is no more important conversation you could ever have. We are all passing away from this life as we speak. Don’t let any one within your scope of influence pass without hearing about Jesus from you.