Do you know what time it is?

One of my congregants calls me “Pastor Punctuality.”  Time is important to me. I am always aware of schedules and deadlines.  Being late is something I abhor, so I generally arrive 15 minutes early, which to be is ‘just on time.’  By contrast, I know some who seem blissfully unaware even of the day of the week.  They somehow fail to see the importance of an approaching deadline so that they are working late into the night, burning the midnight oil, to get prepared for some event that was on their calendar for weeks prior.  Time management is curiously personal. If I have to catch a flight, for example, I will allow at least an extra 30 minutes for travel. If I arrive at the airport early, the extra time allows for a cup of coffee. I arrive much more relaxed. Others will wait until the last minute, dash out the door, worry about every pause in traffic flow, and dash through the terminal, just making the gate at the last moment. I don’t need or want that kind of stress.

The Bible asks us, “Do you know what time it is?”  God’s plans include final moments; for us individually as well as for the world. These come at the time of His choosing.  Some of us will be called out the world by death. Some will be alive when Christ returns and closes out history.  In both instances, there will be judgment.  We need to be aware of the approach of eternity, living in readiness. Here’s the context.  "For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “All is well; everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman’s birth pains begin when her child is about to be born. And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, NLT)

A Christian who is intimately walking with God, in whom the Spirit lives, will not be surprised by the developments in life. He will not live in ignorance of the true condition of his heart. He will not fail to see the indicators of a corrupt and collapsing society around him. Why? Because he lives ‘in the light.’  Knowing the truth of the Word, having the mind of Christ, he sees beyond the surface, past the images carefully created for public consumption.  He sees sin and fearlessly names it for what it is – in himself and in his world.  When God says, “It is finished,” he is not scrambling to catch up, confused by circumstances.  Instead, he is prepared, ready, at peace because he is held in the hand of his Abba.

Again, I ask, do you know what time it is?  Are you aware of God’s timeline, of the passage of time, of eternity that awaits? 

Here’s a word from the Word.  Take the challenge and wake up!  "Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. … This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." (Ephesians 5:7-17, NIV)

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness." (Psalm 89:14-16, NIV)

____________

Christ Returneth

It may be at morn

When the day is awaking,

When sunlight through darkness

And shadow is breaking,

That Jesus will come

In the fullness of glory,

To receive from the world His own.

It may be at midday!

It may be at twilight!

It may be, perchance,

That the blackness of midnight

Will burst into light

In the blaze of His glory,

When Jesus receives His own!

O, Lord Jesus, how long, how long,

‘Ere we shout the glad song;

Christ returneth,

Hallelujah, hallelujah,

Amen?

H. L. Turner | James McGranahan

Public Domain