Do we come with expiration dates?

I am a woman of God.  I stand proud in my faith and am learning more and more everyday about what that means. 

I got a phone call from a friend last night.  She was crying and trying to tell me a young man we both knew as a child had passed away.  He was 16.  Mitchell was a sweet child.  A handful but sweet.  He had a good spirit and a kind soul.  He was loved greatly by my friend.  In our life on earth he was just a boy.  Beginning his journey towards adulthood. 

I don't know any of the details of his passing.  I don't know if he was sick or if this was an accident.  I only know my friends pain.  

The first thing she asked me was do you think he was saved?  Then she asked if God still saw him as a child so he was accepted into the gates of Heaven with a "free" pass of sorts.  Was he young enough to still be seen as an innocent or had our world tainted him and shown him sin.

I told her I thought God would welcome him with open arms because I thought that was what she needed to hear but it did get me thinking.  When do we loose that free pass?  Is there an age stamped on our souls like an expiration date.  A time when God says, "its up to you now." 

When I don't know or I need info I always ask my husband.  He's like a walking encylopedia of Bible knowledge.  I wonder if it keeps me from learning on my own sometimes but with a toddler running around most of the time it's the answer I need not the journey. 

He said...when you are old enough to recognize sin, you are old enough to be judged.

I suppose that will vary from person to person.  It also makes my job as a Christian Mom that much more important.  My daughter needs to know Christ.  She needs to walk with God as she would walk with me.  Hand in Hand with love in her heart.  It's my most important job. 

In trying to process all of this my sweet friend Denera said, "our time on this earth is just a blink in comparison to eternity with God."

A blink to teach my little girl the most important lessons.  A blink to make sure everyone I know and love is saved.  A blink to share the message.  A blink...

In a life where I feel rushed and without time a blink seems like a huge pressure point.  In this one situation I suppose the laundry can wait.