“For man also does not know his time.”
Ecclesiastes 9:12 (LITV)
One of life’s great deceptions is the denial of our own mortality and the inevitability of standing before Him.
“It is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this, the judgment…”
Hebrews 9:27
The foolish man declares, “Tomorrow,” I will do this or that. In truth, we have only today to walk uprightly and to treat others with the wisdom and kindness of God. We only have today to hear His voice and to live our lives to honor Him.
Paul charged Timothy to communicate to fellow believers:
“That they do good,
that they be rich in good works…”
1 Timothy 6:18
There is no time more precious and more worthy than NOW to bring praise unto our God. As servants of God, we seek opportunities to be an extension of His hands and His heart to all.
The living truth of Jesus is:
“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.”
John 4:35 (ESV)
“And the one reaping receives reward,
and gathers fruit to everlasting life…”
John 4:35-36 (ESV)
Our reaping will always be in proportion to our sowing.
“…whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 (ESV)
The disciples of Christ went out into the world to make His Name known among all nations. They did not rest in a confession of faith. The driving force of the passion of the Son to honor the Father is to be the same in us.
“Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit…”
John 15:8
Make Today Count
When our salvation becomes absorbed only with self, it cuts off the life, the energy and the ministrations of the Vine. The forgiveness of sins will ever rest in the work and merit of Jesus alone, but the life of Him can fade and cease to invigorate us with HIS purposes.
“Every branch in Me not bearing fruit,
He takes it away…”
John 15:2 (LITV)
Slothfulness is the fruit of disobedience.
The Psalmist declares:
“So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12
The wise one who walks in the fear of the Lord knows the importance of each day. Those with an understanding of “the Holy” (Proverbs 9:10) know that each day presents opportunities of faith and accountability unto Him who sees the intent of every man’s heart.
Make Today Count
Our days are not to be spent without regard for Him unto whom we must give an account. The journey of our life here is brief and filled with foolishness apart from the fear of the Lord.
Those who “number their days” will, in the wisdom of God, see His opportunities at hand.
“Blessed is that servant whom his Master
will find
so doing when He comes…”
Luke 12:43 (ESV)
Those who fear the Lord seek out fellowship with others who know of this wisdom. They exhort one another to live each day in the doing of His Will.
“Then they that feared the Lord
spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it,
and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord,
and that thought upon His name.”
Malachi 3:16
This is the fruit of those who have tasted and touched the Holiness of God. Sadly, many allow each day to pass without applying His Truth and His Will. God speaks daily to one who has ears to hear and a heart to obey.
“Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith,
Today, if ye will hear His voice
Harden not your heart.”
Hebrews 3:7, 3:15. 4:7
“Work out your own salvation.” Work, as well as believe; and in the daily practice of faithful obedience, in the daily subjugation of your own spirits to His Divine power, in the daily crucifixion of your flesh with its affections and lusts, in the daily straining after loftier heights of godliness and purer atmospheres of devotion and love, — make more thoroughly your own what you possess. Work into the substance of your souls that which you have. “Apprehend that for which you are apprehended of Christ;” and remember that not a past act of faith, but a present and continuous life of loving, faithful work in Christ, which is His and yet yours, is the holding fast the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end.”
— Alexander Maclaren.
Related Post:
Redeeming the Time
Redeeming Our Time
Brian Troxel
Brian do you recall commenting on this dream back in December of 2015?
The morning of December 29, 2015 I had a an early morning dream. I believe that it is a restating of the previous dream regarding clocks about to strike midnight. The fact that this is the second time this theme of time running out has been the subject of my dream tells me that its message is important.
In the dream I saw an hourglass like the one pictured in this post with the sand just about to run out of the top of the hourglass. Normally one would take the hourglass, flip it over, and begin again. However, this was not the case with this dream. In the dream I saw the hour glass like the one pictured above being held in a man’s hands. The man attempted to turn the hourglass over but the sand kept pouring from what was the top of the hourglass to what would now be the bottom. This in the natural is impossible. When one would turn an hourglass over, gravity would dictate the direction of the sand.
In this dream I sensed fear in the person holding the hourglass because the sands of time were running out no matter which way he held the hourglass.
Jesus said that His second coming would be as in the days of Lot and as in the days of Noah where people were eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage no one realizing that the hour of judgment was upon them until it was too late.
I will end this posting with a quote from 1st Thessalonians.
1Th 5:1 — 1Th 5:10
5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him