OUR ENEMY: THE CLOCK
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Watch YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
James 4:14 (MSG) You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.
AT BEST LIFE AS WE KNOW IT IS TEMPORAL. ARE WE SPENDING OUR TIME WISELY?
Job 7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
Psalm 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
THERE IS A THING CALLED THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK THAT TRIES TO WARN PEOPLE OF THE RISK AROUND US.
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
We live in perilous times. We face aggression, apathy, financial collapse, nuclear warfare, chemical biological releases, climate change, --- how about AI (Artifical Intellegence,) drug abuse, the cell phone (Why do they call in CELL?), political uprest, self-destruction, the collapse of the family and social values. Russia, China, India, North Korea, Venezuela, Greenland, Iran, HOSTILITY of religions, no wonder they call it the DOOMSDAY CLOCK? This clock warms of potential danger.
YOU CAN NOT CHEAT TIME. THE CLOCK TICKS AND TICKS. IT STOPS FOR NO MAN, RICH? POOR? PLEASUE WILL FLEE.
TIME CAN BE DIVIDE IN SEVERAL WAYS: PAST -- PRESENT – FUTURE.
BUT WISDOM KNOWS THE TWO CLOCK (TIME)
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
THE FUNERAL HOME AND SELECTING A CASKET SHOULD WAKE US UP ABOUT THE BREVITY OF LIFE, OUR BATTLE WITH THE CLOCK. DEATH HAS A POWERFUL LESSON TO TEACH. DAVID HAD A PARADIGM SHIFT IN LIFE ABOUT TIME.
The battle of the clock comes into clear focus in the ER, ICCU OR THE FUNERAL HOME. One Sunday I called a man to the front of the church. I asked him could he role play and be real honest? He agreed. I ask him to think he or a family member was dead. The funeral home brings in the casket and the flowers are place all around. The family gathers for a private time. I then ask the question: WHAT IS IMPORTANT NOW? The man started crying. He got real serious and said we need to change. Little did I know within two weeks that man would have a massive heart attack and die? I GUESS HOW SOON WE CAN FORGET FROM ROLE PLAYING TO REALITY? There is a real struggle with the clock.
KILLING TIME? THE SECOND KING OF ISRAEL HAD MADE SOME POOR CHOICES HE LOST HIS FOCUS ON ETERNITY,. HE DID NOT GO TO BATTLE WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE.
In his leisure time the KING lost his focus on HIS CALL. The king focuses on the temporal, the 5 senses. The king lost the focus of ETERNAL VALUES. Pleasure takes dominance: SEE THAT EYE CANDY. He did not weigh the consequences of his temporal pleasure, a son was born, a good soldier dies. GOD HAS A MAN NATHAN THAT REMINDS DAVID LIFE IS TEMPORARY. SIN HAS A PAY DAY.
2 Samuel 12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
REDEEM! WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SET. WILL WE LEARN THE VALUE OF HOW LIMITED OUR TIME IS? 1440 MINUTES A DAY? OUR DAYS OUR NUMBERED. (Redeem: to gain or regain possession.)
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Colossians 4:5 (ESV) Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
WE MUST LIVE WITH ETERNITIES VALUES IN VIEW. REDEEM, QUIT KILLING TME, WASTING TIME --- WE ARE JUST STEWARD. WE ARE PILGRAMS. WE PASS THIS WAY ONCE.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
CONCLUSION: TIME IS A PRECIOUS LIMITED GIFT. WE MUST MAKE TIME COUNT. EACH DAY IS NOT TIME WE HAVE. IT IS NOT A DAY WE HAVE, IT IS TIME ANOTHER DAY GONE, not one more day, it is one less day. We must learn to invest time in our family, in people, in the church. We must quit seeing time as PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE… WE MUST FOCUS ON MORE THAN TEMPORAL, OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE INVESTING IN ETERNITY. Seize today. Establish a priority system that is pleasing to God.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
MAKE TODAY COUNT. TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO MAKE A GOOD DAY. No matter who you are you can’t not make more than 24 hours. Evaluate your time usage. Think what is important in the light of eternity. We don’t own time, we use time. Once your time is spent there is no getting it back.
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch: YouTube Wade Hughes)
