Evil darkness descended on Holland during World War 2 carried by men with deadly intent. The Nazis overwhelmed Holland in 1940 with an agenda of conquest and killing. The efficiency with which they carried out their diabolical schemes is still astonishing. The SS and Gestapo worshipped naked, raw power used in the service of cruelty and hatred. In one corner of Haarlem, Holland that juggernaut met with resistance in the most unlikely form- the Ten Boom family. Two spinster sisters, Betsie and Corrie, and their aged father, Casper; all devoted Christians, opened their home to Jews, protecting them until another 'safe house' could be arranged. For two years, this trio met terrible evil with great good which was offered at tremendous cost! In February, 1944, the secret police were told of the Ten Boom's activity and the family was arrested. Casper, the father, died at age 84 after just 10 days in prison. Betsie died within the year in Ravensbruck, a German concentration camp. Corrie survived and became, at age 53, a world-renowned speaker for the cause of Christ with a simple message built on two themes she had learned while suffering in Nazi camps: "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still! and "God will give us the love we need to forgive our enemies."
Scriptures says, "Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good." (Romans 12:21, NLT) Great evil exists in the world around us. It isn't just the evil of terrorist hatred or warring nations. It is an evil that lurks near, disguised and hidden in our neighborhoods. Hatred is common, expressed in banal acts of careless disregard for the dignity of others. "To arms," we cry, "We must destroy evil!" We meet power with power, launching a holy war of wars and dollars. Our best intentions too often are twisted into unintended consequences that result when hatred is met with hatred. We cannot create love by hating!
Jesus commanded a different way - "Do good!" Read His directive slowly, even as you think about your own response to those who are evil -
“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this:
Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.
If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.
If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff.
Live generously.
“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!" (Luke 6:27-31, The Message)
His words are impossible unless we are filled with the love of the Spirit, overflowing with inspired hope, and have our sights set on Heaven. We love only when we know that we are loved by God.
A few years ago there was a saying that floated around - "Practice random acts of kindness." It was plastered on a million bumpers of cars and we read it and said, "How nice." Think about that statement again. It is a reflection of our self-absorption. Do we really want to live in a world where kindness is random, where we are serving the needs of those in need of compassion or a helping hand only when we feel like it, when it is convenient, or when it fits into our emotional state of mind? We need much more than random acts of kindness in this world. We need intentional acts of goodness!
We are created by God for goodness, and our lives are called to serve Him by doing good. You want to find your true destiny? It is stated in this short word from the Word. Take it with you today - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV) Invite the Spirit of God to begin a transformation in your life, right now. Ask Him to make you good, so you can do good, then overcome the evil in this world with intentional acts of goodness.
For the glory of God!
_______________
At the Assembly this weekend, the theme is "The Amazing Power of doing Good."
Worship begins at 10:15. Hope to see you there!
Friday, October 21, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
"I sure hope that Sam is listening."
Have you ever heard a sermon in church that was really convicting, that dug deep into an issue of life and found yourself thinking, "I sure hope Sam is listening!"? Have you ever been confronted about a habit, an attitude, or an action by a friend and reacted defensively? Who hasn't?
In the middle of the celebration of the Passover meal on the night before He was crucified Jesus dropped a grenade on the table - "Somebody sitting here will betray me tonight!" Those men reacted naturally. "It isn't me!" They pointed to each other. As I read Luke's account (22) between the lines I think I can see Peter standing up abruptly and declaring, "It's not me. Remember I'm the guy who walked on the water. I was on the mountain and saw Jesus talking with Moses. I'm number one here! Not me, guys, so don't go looking at me!" Why do I think that? As we read on through the story, first we hear that a dispute about 'who was the greatest' broke out, and then, Jesus tells Peter directly that he will deny his relationship to Jesus three times before dawn breaks!
Judas was not the only betrayer at that table! Judas sold out Jesus, but Peter broke the Lord's heart by denying he even knew him. Peter's pride left him vulnerable to Satan's attack. Peter was no coward. He was a bold man, the only disciple who attempted to defend Jesus from those who came to arrest Him in the garden. But, his courage would fail. He needed Someone more than he could possibly find in himself. He might have found strength from the Spirit of God, but instead he trusted in himself and failed miserably. In warning Jesus said to him, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat." (Luke 22:31, NKJV) Hours later, the proud leader of that little band of Jesus' friend was a broken man, full of guilty remorse, hearing his denials - "I never knew Him!" echoing again and again. Weeks later, the resurrected Jesus met Peter in the Galilee and there beside a small fire, probed his heart and led him to forgiveness and healing. Just as Peter had denied the Lord three times, he was given three opportunities to affirm his love for Jesus. (see John 21)
Years later Peter writes to remind all Believers of the source of real strength. It isn't in bluff, bluster, or defensiveness. "...serve each other in humility, for “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you." (1 Peter 5:5-6, NLT) Humility allows us to know the strength of God's grace. Hearing the Word, hearing the words of others who would advise or even correct requires humility! God may use His Word, your pastor, your child, or even a co-worker who is ungodly to bring an instructive word to you. Will you hear it or deflect it? Will you consider better than another, allowing pride to make you deaf? Will you say, "I sure hope Sam is listening," and miss what the Spirit is saying to you?
Here's a word from the Word to ponder today:"Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt.You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence." (1 Corinthians 10:12, The Message)
In the middle of the celebration of the Passover meal on the night before He was crucified Jesus dropped a grenade on the table - "Somebody sitting here will betray me tonight!" Those men reacted naturally. "It isn't me!" They pointed to each other. As I read Luke's account (22) between the lines I think I can see Peter standing up abruptly and declaring, "It's not me. Remember I'm the guy who walked on the water. I was on the mountain and saw Jesus talking with Moses. I'm number one here! Not me, guys, so don't go looking at me!" Why do I think that? As we read on through the story, first we hear that a dispute about 'who was the greatest' broke out, and then, Jesus tells Peter directly that he will deny his relationship to Jesus three times before dawn breaks!
Judas was not the only betrayer at that table! Judas sold out Jesus, but Peter broke the Lord's heart by denying he even knew him. Peter's pride left him vulnerable to Satan's attack. Peter was no coward. He was a bold man, the only disciple who attempted to defend Jesus from those who came to arrest Him in the garden. But, his courage would fail. He needed Someone more than he could possibly find in himself. He might have found strength from the Spirit of God, but instead he trusted in himself and failed miserably. In warning Jesus said to him, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat." (Luke 22:31, NKJV) Hours later, the proud leader of that little band of Jesus' friend was a broken man, full of guilty remorse, hearing his denials - "I never knew Him!" echoing again and again. Weeks later, the resurrected Jesus met Peter in the Galilee and there beside a small fire, probed his heart and led him to forgiveness and healing. Just as Peter had denied the Lord three times, he was given three opportunities to affirm his love for Jesus. (see John 21)
Years later Peter writes to remind all Believers of the source of real strength. It isn't in bluff, bluster, or defensiveness. "...serve each other in humility, for “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you." (1 Peter 5:5-6, NLT) Humility allows us to know the strength of God's grace. Hearing the Word, hearing the words of others who would advise or even correct requires humility! God may use His Word, your pastor, your child, or even a co-worker who is ungodly to bring an instructive word to you. Will you hear it or deflect it? Will you consider better than another, allowing pride to make you deaf? Will you say, "I sure hope Sam is listening," and miss what the Spirit is saying to you?
Here's a word from the Word to ponder today:"Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt.You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence." (1 Corinthians 10:12, The Message)
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
"Wonderfully made, I'm no accident"
In Dover, PA a school board is defending its decision to place four paragraphs in the High School Biology curriculum that presents students with an alternative view of the origins of life to Darwinian evolution. That view? Intelligent Design. ID is not the same as Biblical Creationism. The theory of ID is relatively new and there is no universally accepted definition of it, but generally proponents of ID state that living organisms are so complex that it can be logically argued that their existence is best explained by the fact that their development was guided by an intelligent force outside of themselves. Dr. Michael Behe, a Ph.D. biochemist from Lehigh University who is a leading voice in defense of ID, used the illustration of seeing the sphinx in Egypt or the stone heads on the Easter Islands and reasonably concluding that someone must have created them.
A materialistic view of the world, one that asserts that only what we can measure, touch, and observe is real, refuses to even consider that there could be a Being that is unknowable through scientific method. Materialists fear that the world will rush back to the Dark Ages where all puzzling and unexplained things were given a supernatural cause if the door of science is cracked open even a little by acknowledging the possibility that Intelligent Design theory could be true. Implicit in the theory of Intelligent Design is the belief in god - the small 'g' is deliberate since ID does not define the who or what of the designer. ID does not argue for the God of the Scripture. But, if taught in our schools, it has far-reaching implications for the way students view life. Dr. Behe knows this. He sees the debate as being driven not purely by scientific inquiry but also by political and sociological issues. Scientists who support Darwinian evolution as the explanation of origins know that it provides 'freedom' from the restraint on human choices and behaviors that come with any recognition of God's existence. Put simply- if there is a god who designed organisms and guided the emergence of life as we know it, then we human beings owe some level of accountability to that god.
I believe it is a terrible mistake to discard those facts that scientific method help us to discover, but it is an even worse mistake to discard God! Here in these United States, where churches dot the landscape and a large percentage of people (40-50%) regularly attend worship services, God is in a curious limbo. Acknowledged by most as being there, He is ignored by nearly as many as being irrelevant to daily life. Thus, we live as though He did not exist. We are functional atheists, bereft of the comfort and stability that is found in knowing the living God.
The simple sentence that opens the Scripture is profound! When we read and believe that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1, NLT) we discover a source of meaning for our lives, a purpose that goes beyond the propagation of our DNA or the satisfaction of our sensual desires.
The Psalmist sings of the joy that he found in believing that God was his Creator.
"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You. " (Psalm 139:13-18, NKJV)
You and I - we are not random accidents, the products of millions of years of unguided selection. We are the work of the Designer.
Does such a statement answer all of our questions? Of course not.
Are there mysteries unexplained even by the affirmation of the Creator in Scripture?
Most certainly.
But, the evidence, as I see it, convincing argues for the existence of an Intelligent Designer.
The Bible shows me His Identity.
Jesus Christ shows me His love.
And I am at rest in Him, living purposefully, hopefully, and joyfully for Him.
In Dover, PA a school board is defending its decision to place four paragraphs in the High School Biology curriculum that presents students with an alternative view of the origins of life to Darwinian evolution. That view? Intelligent Design. ID is not the same as Biblical Creationism. The theory of ID is relatively new and there is no universally accepted definition of it, but generally proponents of ID state that living organisms are so complex that it can be logically argued that their existence is best explained by the fact that their development was guided by an intelligent force outside of themselves. Dr. Michael Behe, a Ph.D. biochemist from Lehigh University who is a leading voice in defense of ID, used the illustration of seeing the sphinx in Egypt or the stone heads on the Easter Islands and reasonably concluding that someone must have created them.
A materialistic view of the world, one that asserts that only what we can measure, touch, and observe is real, refuses to even consider that there could be a Being that is unknowable through scientific method. Materialists fear that the world will rush back to the Dark Ages where all puzzling and unexplained things were given a supernatural cause if the door of science is cracked open even a little by acknowledging the possibility that Intelligent Design theory could be true. Implicit in the theory of Intelligent Design is the belief in god - the small 'g' is deliberate since ID does not define the who or what of the designer. ID does not argue for the God of the Scripture. But, if taught in our schools, it has far-reaching implications for the way students view life. Dr. Behe knows this. He sees the debate as being driven not purely by scientific inquiry but also by political and sociological issues. Scientists who support Darwinian evolution as the explanation of origins know that it provides 'freedom' from the restraint on human choices and behaviors that come with any recognition of God's existence. Put simply- if there is a god who designed organisms and guided the emergence of life as we know it, then we human beings owe some level of accountability to that god.
I believe it is a terrible mistake to discard those facts that scientific method help us to discover, but it is an even worse mistake to discard God! Here in these United States, where churches dot the landscape and a large percentage of people (40-50%) regularly attend worship services, God is in a curious limbo. Acknowledged by most as being there, He is ignored by nearly as many as being irrelevant to daily life. Thus, we live as though He did not exist. We are functional atheists, bereft of the comfort and stability that is found in knowing the living God.
The simple sentence that opens the Scripture is profound! When we read and believe that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1, NLT) we discover a source of meaning for our lives, a purpose that goes beyond the propagation of our DNA or the satisfaction of our sensual desires.
The Psalmist sings of the joy that he found in believing that God was his Creator.
"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You. " (Psalm 139:13-18, NKJV)
You and I - we are not random accidents, the products of millions of years of unguided selection. We are the work of the Designer.
Does such a statement answer all of our questions? Of course not.
Are there mysteries unexplained even by the affirmation of the Creator in Scripture?
Most certainly.
But, the evidence, as I see it, convincing argues for the existence of an Intelligent Designer.
The Bible shows me His Identity.
Jesus Christ shows me His love.
And I am at rest in Him, living purposefully, hopefully, and joyfully for Him.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
How rich I am!
On Sunday, our church celebrated the various ministries that are offered to the congregation and community in our annual Ministry Expo. The hallways were packed with displays created by people who serve God in various ways. There was a buzz of excitement and the enthusiasm of people who are making a difference in this corner of the world made the atmosphere one of expectation. Earlier that morning, when I spoke challenging people to receive God's love and then to give it away in some ministry, there was a response of faith. That afternoon, as Bev and I were on our way to get a quick lunch at Panera (great place for sandwich, salad, and soup!) we thought over the day, talking about the wonderful people with whom we serve, and it settled over me again, freshly, how very rich I am! No, I don't have a lot of money in the bank nor do I own much in terms of material possessions. A summary of my financial net worth wouldn't exactly position me on anyone's list of wealthy people either. But I am rich!
God has allowed me to know His grace, repeatedly- even when I've failed Him miserably. He has used me as a priest to pour His grace into the lives of others, often not through what I perceive to be my strengths, but through my scars, those marks left when I've been so broken and where He's healed me. He's let me love and be loved by many - in my family, in the church I serve, and in this world. And thus, I am rich! "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV) I am a son of God and my Father has written me into His will, making me an heir of incredible wealth. I exult in this great wealth."Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV)
Please do not read this is as some kind of boast. That is not at all why I am writing it. My purpose is to encourage you to include ALL of your wealth when you're doing an inventory of life. If I only focused on the material things I do not have, I would arrive at a different conclusion. But, when I look at the spiritual blessings I do enjoy, the bottom line on the balance sheet of life changes considerably.
What kind of wealth are you striving for?
Where is your treasure?
Are you measuring your wealth by the amount of resources you are able to keep in store in a 401(k) or by the performance of your portfolio at Morgan Stanley?
Or are you committing to building true wealth? There is nothing inherently wrong with having material wealth, but the moment will come when the things of this world are left behind. Only the treasure stored in Heaven- through service, through generous giving, through loving others - will figure into the balance sheet then.
Here's a word from the Word to take along with you today. Think it over - maybe even jot it on a piece of paper - and let the Spirit guide you in applying it to your life - "True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life." (Proverbs 22:4, NLT)
______________________________
How Rich Am I
How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
Such peace and joy I never knew before.
And countless blessings from His boundless store.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
There's a greater glory in a sunset,
A brighter twinkle in a star,
There's much more promise in a rainbow,
More music in a singing bird by far;
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see,
The whole wide world is now a symphony,
And with all this, heav'n is my destiny,
How rich I am!
Author: Peterson, John W.Copyright: 1956.
Renewed 1984 John W. Peterson Music Company
CCLI License No. 810055
God has allowed me to know His grace, repeatedly- even when I've failed Him miserably. He has used me as a priest to pour His grace into the lives of others, often not through what I perceive to be my strengths, but through my scars, those marks left when I've been so broken and where He's healed me. He's let me love and be loved by many - in my family, in the church I serve, and in this world. And thus, I am rich! "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV) I am a son of God and my Father has written me into His will, making me an heir of incredible wealth. I exult in this great wealth."Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV)
Please do not read this is as some kind of boast. That is not at all why I am writing it. My purpose is to encourage you to include ALL of your wealth when you're doing an inventory of life. If I only focused on the material things I do not have, I would arrive at a different conclusion. But, when I look at the spiritual blessings I do enjoy, the bottom line on the balance sheet of life changes considerably.
What kind of wealth are you striving for?
Where is your treasure?
Are you measuring your wealth by the amount of resources you are able to keep in store in a 401(k) or by the performance of your portfolio at Morgan Stanley?
Or are you committing to building true wealth? There is nothing inherently wrong with having material wealth, but the moment will come when the things of this world are left behind. Only the treasure stored in Heaven- through service, through generous giving, through loving others - will figure into the balance sheet then.
Here's a word from the Word to take along with you today. Think it over - maybe even jot it on a piece of paper - and let the Spirit guide you in applying it to your life - "True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life." (Proverbs 22:4, NLT)
______________________________
How Rich Am I
How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
Such peace and joy I never knew before.
And countless blessings from His boundless store.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
There's a greater glory in a sunset,
A brighter twinkle in a star,
There's much more promise in a rainbow,
More music in a singing bird by far;
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see,
The whole wide world is now a symphony,
And with all this, heav'n is my destiny,
How rich I am!
Author: Peterson, John W.Copyright: 1956.
Renewed 1984 John W. Peterson Music Company
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, October 17, 2005
Give me a couple of seconds!
What can you do with 2 seconds?
If you're one of those people who think time is disposable, there's a story from college football that might lead us to a different conclusion. Michigan hosted Penn State on Saturday afternoon. It appeared that Penn State was going home with the win after they made a dramatic score in the final minute of the game! Michigan took possession of the ball. When the clock showed just 28 seconds remaining, Michigan's coach, Lloyd Carr, made an appeal to the refs to put 2 seconds back on the clock because they were late in recognizing a time out request. Those seconds became critical as Michigan kept pushing for the goal. With 1 second left, Michigan's Henne, threw a pass to the end zone where it was caught-- game over, a Michigan won on that last play!
What can you do with 2 seconds?
You could say - "thank you," before hurrying on from a transaction. You could breathe a quick prayer for a distressed person who catches your attention. You could pause to re-focus your attention on the Lord just as you're ready to blow up in anger. You could make a decision that will shape the rest of this day. Our 'wins and losses' are often shaped by choices made in a second's time!
Time is a precious commodity. Time is the one thing in which all people are equals. Days pass with the same march of minutes for each one of us. What will we do with this gift? None of us knows if we're playing the final seconds on our game's clock, do we? So making wise use of those minutes, hours, - yes, even those seconds - is an important choice.
Solomon, "the Teacher," cynically writes of the life he lived in the book of Ecclesiastes. In one breath, he rants about the emptiness of life, 'meaningless, a chasing after the wind,' but then he turns to muse about the value of time. Read his words thoughtfully:
"There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does?" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9, The Message)
His cynicism creeps into the end of even that thought! Does it make a difference? Yes, it does! Even Solomon acknowledges that making the right choice, that using 'just 2 seconds' wisely is important. In the final chapter of his book, he concludes:
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NKJV)
One thousand, one. One thousand, two. 2 seconds ticked off the clock. What are choosing, right now?Make it a wise choice, one that is focused on pleasing God and building an eternal treasure. If you're 'just killing time,' I pray that the Spirit's conviction will lead you to change your ways - NOW!
"Live wisely .... and make the most of every opportunity." (Colossians 4:5, NLT)
If you're one of those people who think time is disposable, there's a story from college football that might lead us to a different conclusion. Michigan hosted Penn State on Saturday afternoon. It appeared that Penn State was going home with the win after they made a dramatic score in the final minute of the game! Michigan took possession of the ball. When the clock showed just 28 seconds remaining, Michigan's coach, Lloyd Carr, made an appeal to the refs to put 2 seconds back on the clock because they were late in recognizing a time out request. Those seconds became critical as Michigan kept pushing for the goal. With 1 second left, Michigan's Henne, threw a pass to the end zone where it was caught-- game over, a Michigan won on that last play!
What can you do with 2 seconds?
You could say - "thank you," before hurrying on from a transaction. You could breathe a quick prayer for a distressed person who catches your attention. You could pause to re-focus your attention on the Lord just as you're ready to blow up in anger. You could make a decision that will shape the rest of this day. Our 'wins and losses' are often shaped by choices made in a second's time!
Time is a precious commodity. Time is the one thing in which all people are equals. Days pass with the same march of minutes for each one of us. What will we do with this gift? None of us knows if we're playing the final seconds on our game's clock, do we? So making wise use of those minutes, hours, - yes, even those seconds - is an important choice.
Solomon, "the Teacher," cynically writes of the life he lived in the book of Ecclesiastes. In one breath, he rants about the emptiness of life, 'meaningless, a chasing after the wind,' but then he turns to muse about the value of time. Read his words thoughtfully:
"There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does?" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9, The Message)
His cynicism creeps into the end of even that thought! Does it make a difference? Yes, it does! Even Solomon acknowledges that making the right choice, that using 'just 2 seconds' wisely is important. In the final chapter of his book, he concludes:
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NKJV)
One thousand, one. One thousand, two. 2 seconds ticked off the clock. What are choosing, right now?Make it a wise choice, one that is focused on pleasing God and building an eternal treasure. If you're 'just killing time,' I pray that the Spirit's conviction will lead you to change your ways - NOW!
"Live wisely .... and make the most of every opportunity." (Colossians 4:5, NLT)
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