Time

Recently I completed reading the book “Frozen in Time” an historical account of the downing of World War II aircraft in Greenland.  It is an epic story of survival and a modern quest for solving the riddle of lost heroes in the Arctic ice.  It is a story of the courage of servicemen and women in the 1940s as well as the persistence of the recovery efforts by those in 2012.  Although the book was very interesting it made me think about the word “time.”  This word is used 888 times in the New International Version of the Bible.  As I was growing up I often heard the phrase “redeeming the time” from the King James Version (Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5).

 

I do like how the NIV translates these same verses – “making the most of every opportunity”.  Our time on this earth is called a life-time.  When I was young, a life-time seemed like a long protracted period.  However, as I grew older I realized that a life-time is quite short.  In reality it is crucial for all of us to do our best to make sure the time we have counts for Christ.  Jeremy Taylor said, “God hath given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends.”  I believe that is the case, so we need to wisely use the seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years that God gives us for things that will outlast us.  What is it that will outlast us?  The ministry of God’s word and the communication of eternal life through Christ.  How are you using your time?  Are you making the most of every opportunity for Christ?

Doing Things Well - Even in Old Age

As some people slide into old age it seems easier for them to focus on

the things they can no longer do.  At one time they could see well and hear well; but that is not the case anymore.  They used to be able to run and jump and had lots of energy.  But that ability has declined and energy levels are not what they used to be.  They see younger men, women and children doing extraordinary things and that makes them feel useless and unappreciated.  In fact, the elderly may begin to think they can do nothing as good as they used to do in the past.

Listen to this commentary from the Bible about those who are elderly.  “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.  They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (Psalm 92:12-15).

This scripture tells us that the elderly can do some things as well or even better than they used to do when they were younger.  To flourish, grow, and bear fruit is something that can be done in greater measure in old age.  I also believe that seniors can love and pray and smile and encourage others.  They can proclaim to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the wonderful news that a personal relationship with God is foundational.  The lesson God wants us to learn is that He can use all of us – even those in old age – to flourish, grow, and bear fruit as we love, pray, smile and encourage others.  The challenge is to allow God use us at whatever stage of life we find ourselves.