On May 15th, NASCAR legend Kyle Busch won the 2026 Ecosave 200 at Dover Motor Speedway, his record-extending 69th NASCAR Truck Series victory.
After taking the trophy, a Fox Sports reporter asked Busch, “Why do these moments never get old, Kyle?”
Busch replied, “Because you never know when the last one is.”
Six days later, Kyle Busch died at age 41 from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis.
I don’t know Kyle Busch’s religious convictions, if any, but on the day of his final victory, he expressed a profound biblical truth.
The Bible expresses it this way in James 4:13-15
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Remembering family and friends on this past Memorial Day further underscores this sobering fact.
My brother, Bill, died in a car accident at age 23, returning home from a Wednesday evening Bible study.
A dear sister in Christ, Linda, attended worship on Sunday evening and unexpectedly died later that evening from a massive heart attack.
More recently, a young preaching colleague, Everritt Heaton, preached on February 8th. The next day, he complained of not feeling well. Subsequent tests revealed advanced cancer. He passed away less than a month later–just shy of his 41st birthday.
While these stories of personal friends may sound morbid, they remind us of the solemn reality echoed by the wise man: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
So, today, enjoy life’s simple pleasures:
A glorious sunrise.
A hot cup of coffee
The embrace of your loved ones.
The comfort of an easy chair.
A delicious meal.
A good book to read.
A gorgeous sunset.
A comfortable bed.
Since today is the only day you’re promised:
Love deeply.
Do good.
Encourage someone.
Reconnect with a friend.
Show kindness to a stranger.
Use your blessings to help others.
On this day, don’t forget about your relationship to God.
Give God thanks
Pray for guidance
Read scripture.
Praise God.
Reflect on His goodness.
Oh, and victories? We’ve all enjoyed victories in life. Perhaps not on the scale of a NASCAR champion, but God has blessed each of us with successes, opportunities, and moments worth celebrating.
In our breakfast nook, my wife has a plaque that reads:
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
Today is a Gift.
That’s why is called
The Present.
Indeed, “you never know when the last one is.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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