Whether or not you write New Year’s resolutions, I’d like to encourage you to stop and take stock—not to list out resolutions but to consider what matters most in life. Where are you going? How do you spend your time? What matters for eternity?

What would you do if you had just one more minute?

Years ago, I was forced to face the realization that life is short. I had just finished my second year in college. My two brothers and I still lived at home with our single mother, and we got the news that she had cancer. My sweet mother died shortly afterward, just a few weeks after my 20th birthday, and I experienced the hard reality that death robs us of the luxury of just one more minute.

If you had one more moment to share with someone, how would you use that blip of time? What if that moment extended to hours, weeks, or months—how would you spend those days? And if you have the good fortune of many more years, how will you spend that opportunity?

January is a perfect time to ponder the possibilities God has placed before you and to seek His wisdom about how you choose to spend your moments. This is the time to be intentional about life—to make decisions that will last for eternity. Ultimately, we face the reality that the only things that will last in life are God, His Word, and human souls.

A new year prompts us to consider new beginnings for both ourselves and those around us. How can we introduce and cultivate the growing of God’s Word in our souls and the souls of others? What changes do we need to make? Which decisions will impact others and us, understanding that the Lord is sovereign over all our efforts and best-laid plans? By His grace, how can we use our time, money, and gifts to impact the Kingdom of God?

We’d like to help you influence the world around you. We recognize that believers need to be equipped to discuss creation with skeptics and believers alike, and we’re committed to providing you with the resources to bolster your faith and equip you to answer questions you may face. (You’ll find some of our plans for the upcoming year on page 19.) ICR’s consistent mission is to reach others with the truths of Scripture and glorify our Creator by pointing to His marvelous works.

Life on Earth is short. Eternity is forever, and the moments we spend in this brief life affect our “forever.” If you had just one more minute, how would you spend it, and how could you make a difference in the lives of others? Make a plan to learn more about God and His creation, and decide to be intentional about sharing your faith throughout this upcoming year. Be prepared to take a minute to introduce others to our marvelous Creator—the God of eternity.

* Jayme Durant is Executive Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.