Thankful For Time

 Philippians 1:21  

21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

James 4:13-14

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

In today’s busy world, it just seems like we don’t have enough time.  Our lives are so busy it seems like life is passing by like a speeding freight train.  Have you looked at the time that you do have and thanked God for it?  During this time of thanksgiving and especially during this trying year, I think back about the time that I have had and my heart can only burst into thankfulness unto God.  I think about the people I have lost in my life from my aunt to my grandfather whom I loved as a father, and I’m reminded that my time upon this earth is very short.

However, I’m also reminded that this world is not my home and my citizenship lies in heaven.  As Paul stated in Philippians, I can truly understand what he meant by “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  

However, even though we understand the brevity of life, it doesn’t mean that we should wish our life away or waste away at our life.  God has an intended purpose for each and every one of us.  God wants us to use the time He has given us wisely.

Christian, think about this.  If God’s only purpose was to save you from sin and to worship Him, He would have snatched you away at the moment of salvation.  However, He did not.  Why?  God promises us to give us an abundant life and one of the most abundant and exciting things we can do is to be a part of His work.  There is no better feeling than sharing the gospel and the testimony of Jesus Christ!  Sharing how God has worked in your life can bring so much joy to your heart.  Then, when you see how it has affected others, you stand in awe.

Charles Stanley has recently reflected upon this in his own life.  Now 88 years old, he has looked back on a life of ministry and he sees the abundant life that God has given him by being able to spread the message to loved ones and so many around the world.

Think about how you use your time.  Even if it’s just sharing the message with your family, think about how rewarding it is to have that time together.  God also allows us to redeem the time by having joyous moments here on Earth with other believers.  I have been in so many blessed worship services or served on mission trips that are unforgettable and have made a lasting impact upon my life.

God also promises us that we will be rewarded based on the works we’ve accomplished in the time given to us.  At the judgement seat of believers, our judgement will be based solely on the fact of how we redeemed the time that was given to us and we will be strictly rewarded based on that fact.

God has also given us time so that others may come to salvation.  Our God is a loving God and because of that, He wants to give everyone as much time as He can.  Only God knows though how much time is enough however.  God knows the day that He will have to say, “Ok, enough is enough.”  That is a tough call but only a call a God can make.  

2 Peter 3:9 tells us,

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

God in His great love is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  For that reason, He gives us time that we should always be thankful for.

Given that verse, think about it.  Shouldn’t we be grateful that God even gave us the time to be saved?  Just think about how precious each and every second that you have.  It’s not given to us based on what you deserve, how healthy you are, how much money you have, etc.  Your time is solely based on the graciousness of God, our sustainer.  

Each and every day when we wake up, we should thank God for waking us up.  When we close our eyes at night, we should thank God for the day that He gave us.  At minutes throughout the day, we should thank God for the very time He gave us.

The next time you feel like you just want to waste a day away, think about the preciousness of each and every minute that you have.

Let us be thankful unto God for the time that we do have to share the love of Him so that we may spend eternity with Him and have others with us!