This year has rushed by, hasn’t it? I mean, it seems like we just came out of the “deep freeze” of winter here in MN, and now we are headed back into it. In another week, (November 3rd) we will be turning our clocks back an hour just so we aren’t in perpetual darkness for a bit. But those days of getting up in the morning to darkness, and then driving home in the early evening in darkness are almost here.
I think lately I have been feeling like life is that way too. As I have headed into later years of my life, I feel like more of my time is in darkness than in light. This world, this time in our culture, and the things that are occurring in our world right now, remind me that we are on a timeline. There is only a finite set of seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years left. I don’t say this to cause alarm, or anxiety – especially in families where there are young children involved, but I do say it to remind us that God is coming back.
In taking stock of life, and decisions, and legacy I find myself wondering if I’ve done enough. And if I am wondering if I have, then its probably a good indicator that I have not. There are people out there who don’t know that simply by not making a decision, they are making a decision. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He came to earth to die for all sin, because He loves us. Then He rose again and went to be with The Father in heaven.
Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
1 Peter 2:24: "'He himself bore our sins' in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness"
2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God"
So, when I look and see people walking into eternity with no plan for it, I find myself overcome with sorrow and a renewal of purpose to trust God’s plan for me to tell others about God’s love and His wanting of all humanity to join Him in paradise.
I don’t know when Jesus is coming back, no one does – but the Bible tells us:
Matthew 24:36-44 NIV “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Let’s be diligent. Let’s be mindful of the people around us. And let’s be willing to take a chance that someone needs to hear how much Jesus loves them.
Peace,
PTV