Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Time…Where Did It Go?


Antique Clock Face



Last week my wife and I took my step granddaughter and two nephews on a vacation to San Diego, California. We had a wonderful time; we visited Sea World and let the kids swim in the Pacific Ocean. Over the last few months we anxiously awaited for this vacation to arrive. We choose our destination and booked our room back in January.  We looked forward to taking the kids and spending this time with each other. Not to mention a vacation from work. Then the time arrived and then passed just like that. I am sure you have heard many people say, “The time just flew by.” Perhaps you have said it yourself. This statement I certainly do echo. Now with every moment our vacation is slipping away further into the past, never to be experienced again. We just have a few pictures and our memories. It is like watching a sail boat drift away into the sunset, soon to be out of sight. This vacation is now in the history books of our lives.

Looking back at my life I remember a trip some twenty years ago to the Glacier National Park in Montana. This too was a most enjoyable trip. Likewise, time just flew by.  I remember we hated to see our vacation come to an end so much that we dubbed the road home, “The Trail of Tears.” Even though we had an awesome time, this vacation is now a distant memory. I can only recall very few of the conversations we had plus some of the highlights of the trip. So it is with time. People who lived two hundred years, or two thousand years ago journeyed through life and then their time passed away. Now they are long gone. Except for a few, most of these people are not even known of this day. They had their dreams and their plans, their victories and defeats. They had things which they looked forward too, then these things also came to pass.

Concerning time, a few years ago I heard an analogy which went something like this: Here in the USA we have a measurement know as an inch which is roughly about 2.5 centimeters in length.  Suppose there is a tape measure which starts here and stretches to the moon, the sun, then to the stars and keeps on going…forever. Now on this tape measure the first inch represents 100 years of time. Our life begins here on earth at the beginning of the tape measure. Most of our lives will not fill up that one inch of time. Now suppose what we do with that short amount of time will affect the rest of the time represented on the tape measure. Would it not be wise to invest this time wisely? Obviously coming to faith in Jesus and receiving His free gift of salvation is of most importance. What a wasted life it will be for all who end up spending eternity in hell. Yes, there are many other important things in life, such as helping others and being a blessing to those who we know. These are all good things which we must do. But the one thing which is weighing heavy on my heart is this: Most of us live our lives looking out for number 1, which is ourselves. The thing is God did not place us here on earth for ourselves. Think about it like this, when we live our life looking out for number 1, then we actually short change ourselves. The truth is that God has something much bigger than ourselves for each of us. We are here for God's purposes. That is, through each of us, He wants to be glorified and to make Him known. In Christ, we become servants of the Most High God. We must remember, not only what I do with my life will affect the rest of that tape measure I mentioned above, but also may have a positive or negative impact someone else’s rest of their tape measure. So the question we must all ask of ourselves, “are we going to shortchange ourselves and others in living for ourselves? Or are we going impact others for good and live life bringing glory to our God so that others may come to know Him?”

Below are a few scriptures to meditate on:

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13 NKJV)

While Jesus is addressing the scribes and Pharisees, I believe us believers may also stand in the way of people from entering into the Kingdom.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, (1 Timothy 2:1-6 NKJV)

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. (Matthew 9:37 NKJV)

19 comments:

  1. Yes, Ken, time passes so quickly. I look at my two sons and wonder how they grew up so fast. I count the candles on my recent birthday cake and wonder - how did THAT happen?

    I was reminded of this Scripture:

    "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

    I think this is the secret to making those millimeters on the tape measure count. Fearing the Lord is the first step to wisdom - and we are wise to live our lives to HIS glory.

    May we focus on eternity - and do our best to tell others the way to salvation and eternal life.

    GOD BLESS!

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  2. Sharon, Awesome verse you shared here. When we are young, often times we feel as though we are invincible, like life will last an awful long time. But time does fly right on by. Thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts. May God also bless you,
    Ken

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  3. Hi Ken, it does pass quickly, doesn't it? I have learned to be thankful for the new day and the hope and promise it will bring. I know that I have to trust God and look forward to whatever challenges, blessings, and opportunities that He has planned for me today. I always tell myself that my past is remembered and my future is hoped for, but the present moment is when I am called to seek Him with each breath I take and with each moment that passes.

    I am glad you had a nice vacation with cherished memories!
    Blessings and love,
    Denise

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    1. Denise, I love what you said; "I always tell myself that my past is remembered and my future is hoped for, but the present moment is when I am called to seek Him with each breath I take and with each moment that passes." This is so true and may we all continue seeking Him with each and every breath we take. Blessings and love to you also,
      Ken

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  4. I needed to read this today Ken. and also the verse Sharon shared in her comment...Sometimes I allow time to just slip through my fingers, always thinking that I will do this or that later, when the time is available now...I often quote that old song..."Time keeps on slippin' into the future".

    Time spent in the Word and talking with God is never wasted, and we can fit that into our day without a problem (we can always talk to God, even when our hands are busy).

    I am trying harder to be more aware of how my words and actions may influence others lately...It is also important to note how some people influence us as well. It may have a consequence like dominos...they negatively affect us..we affect another person,etc...
    ~God bless~
    Lisa


    ~God bless~ Lisa

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    1. Lisa, I too battle with procrastination thinking "I'll do it later." This is not good, especially when it comes to the things of God, such of prayer. And how many times have I been negatively affected by someone else and then pass it on. This is also something we must be aware of. May God bless you also,
      Ken

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  5. Hi Ken,
    the most important thing for us to do in this world is the service which the Lord requires us to do, so finding out what He requires us to do and staying in close communication with Him is essential. Welcome back

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    1. Brenda, yes it is. Often times we let the insignificant things distract us from what is truly important.
      May God bless you,
      Ken

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  6. We all have so much wasted time in our lives and as we become older we can see it....you can never make it up but you can begin with what time you have left to glorify God in His service. Big or small. I truly enjoy your spiritual insight.

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    1. Dee, We must all keep moving forward in life and growing in the Lord. We all have wasted time and time which could of been better used, but it is so important that we continue serving Him and growing in our walks.
      May God bless you,
      Ken

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  7. Hi Ken,

    Just before reading your post, I was reading Ecclesiastes. Everything except for God is meaningless. Everything we do with our lives is meaningless unless we share God with those who do not know Him. Life comes and it goes and the only thing that truly matters is eternal salvation and life in heaven with our Father.

    My family and I just came back from a short trip to Alberta. At the ending of our trip we decided to get a park pass and go hiking in the mountains by Rogers Pass. It was wonderful! Then today I look at the news and see the banter going around the internet that Banff, Canmore and southern Alberta are having a crisis flooding. Where we just were, in Canmore, is underwater and being destroyed. What I knew just yesterday is now totally different. Father brought me to Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. We do not know what tomorrow may bring. The only assured thing is Jesus Christ crucified and risen again sitting at Father's right hand bringing salvation to all who will accept Him.

    Thanks for the wonderful encouragement to continue to share the Gospel.

    Glad you had a wonderful vacation. I hope you are well rested and ready to continue on.

    Blessings brother,
    <><

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    1. child of God, Wow, Praise God that you got out of Alberta before the flooding. We must never take tomorrow for granted because in just a moment, everything can change. The only thing we may have assurance in is our Lord and our salvation through Him. It is easy to let the things of this world distract us from what is truly important. But when we pass from here to eternity, we no longer can to out and tell someone about the love of Christ and salvation through Him.
      May the Lord bless you,
      Ken

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  8. Hi Ken ~ I was talking with a coworker today about how fast our lives and that of our families go.
    James 4:14...For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
    I think that as the coming of the Lord seems to be drawing nearer we must be more vigilant in sharing the love of Christ with others.
    God bless you Ken
    Chelle

    By the way I dhave a new blog now. My old one stopped working. Here is the link. http://redeemedrenewedtransformed.blogspot.com/

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    1. Chelle, Oh how right you are. It has been heavy on my heart lately to making Jesus known and praying for the lost. I believe Christ's return may very well be close and we live in a society which is falling deeper into sin. However, at the same time there are many ripe to hear the Gospel and Jesus is still saving sinners. Like Jesus, we must be about our Heavenly Fathers business.
      Thank you for sharing your new blog, I am coming over to check it out.
      May God bless you,
      Ken

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  9. I am glad you all had a great vacation. Thank you for the message about using our time wisely..."Only what is done for Christ will last."

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    1. Karen, Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read my post and leave your comment. May God bless you,
      Ken

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  10. Time does fly by but because of Jesus we have a never-ending future. I can't wait.

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    1. Peggy, and what an awesome and wonder never-ending future it will be. Thank you for visiting and your comment. May God bless you,
      Ken

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  11. Hi Ken, it sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. I think I too must take a little break for a while. As well as going through my sickness trial ( at the moment I feel like I am in a 'Job situation'}, but keep getting the same encouraging scriptures from the Lord, especially the one regarding the centurion's slave, and the others that the Lord has given me. I also need a little time out, visiting some lovely places around Wales, as my garden has been keeping me busy lately too. Enjoy your rest.

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