Time is fascinating, or perhaps it is more correct to say our perception of time amazes me. It seems to stretch or contract at will.
I can remember a vehicle accident in the early 90s. A woman pulled out from a stop sign and tried to cross three lanes of traffic in front of me. Perhaps a few seconds elapsed between her stepping on the gas, my braking, and the impact. I remember the event as if it happened yesterday, and the whole thing seemed to stretch for many minutes.
My high school friends are all nearing 70 now, but I remember them as teenagers. I have ministered to children who have children of their own.
When I was younger, it felt like I had all the time in the world. In my early career days, it was on the go non-stop, and the world was a blur. Now that I have retired and struggle with health issues, I sometimes wonder how much I have left. Will I see my grandchildren married? Will I ever meet my great-grandchildren? Only the Lord knows, and He isn’t telling.
Don’t misunderstand; I am not regretting older. I am not planning on shuffling off this mortal coil any time soon. I wouldn’t go back and redo it all even if I could. Certainly, I could correct some mistakes, but I’d just make others.
I have no desire to be 18, 30, 40, or even 50 again. God has been good to me and always will be. When it comes my time, I know where I will be.
None of us can recapture yesterday. None of us can capture tomorrow. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow never comes. A little cliche sounding? Perhaps, but true. We only have today to live.
The world stretches out a long way behind us, an indeterminate period ahead of us. We have remembrances and hopes, and all can look forward to eternity in some place, either in heaven or hell.
Whether the days seem to last forever or blow by too quickly, we get one shot at this life, and this is it.
It is no wonder that Solomon could say
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 1:14 ESV
The days come and go, and we often blow about like dust in the wind.
Jesus told a parable,
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21 ESV
His point wasn’t that we aren’t to plan for the future or enjoy the fruits of our labor. We have limited days, which are best spent with our eyes on God. Don’t chase the wind.
Looking back on our lives from eternity, we will see what we accomplished that blew away like dust and what endured.
May the King use what you do today for his eternal glory. May it not blow away.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
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