What can you do with 6 seconds?

If you're one of those people who think time is disposable, let me tell you about a football game that got my attention on Sunday. The Dolphins were leading the Packers and running out the clock. It looked like the game was over. With a couple of minutes left the Packers drove for the goal. At 30 seconds, the situation was looking grim, then there was a pass completion that created a first down. With just seconds left on the clock Aaron Rodgers found a receiver and, from the 4 yard line, with 6 seconds left to play, threw a pass that won the game.

What can you do with 6 seconds? 

You could say - "thank you," and make a harried clerk feel human.

You could breathe a prayer for a person whose sadness you took time to notice.

You could take a time-out to re-focus your attention on the Lord before you blow up in anger.

You could hug your child or your spouse.

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! 

Rich and poor, young and old, we have an equal 24 hours in the day. What will we do with the gift of time?  God runs the clock of eternity, though. We don’t know if we're playing in the final seconds, 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 6 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)

What are you choosing to do with the next 6 seconds?

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)

___________

My Life Is In Your Hands

My life is in Your hands,

My heart is in Your keeping,

I'm never without hope,

Not when my future is with You.

My life is in Your hands,

And though I may not see clearly,

I will lift my voice and sing,

'Cause Your love

Does amazing things.

Lord, I know my life

Is in Your hands!

Life can be so good!

Life can be so hard!

Never knowing what each day

Will bring to where You are.

Sometimes I forget

And sometimes I can't see

That whatever comes my way,

You'll be with me!

Bill Montvilo | Kathy Troccoli

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