Where Has The Time Gone Series

This week I was studying on our patio and my daughter came and asked me if I wanted to take a walk with her. When you are studying…and your 18 year old daughter ask you to take a walk…you take the walk.

On our walk…we saw some little kids playing in their driveway and the youngest was a little girl. She had this little pink tutu on and was running all over the place chasing her brother. My daughter said, “Awww how cute. I used to be little like that.” And I said, “Yep…and it seems just like yesterday.” It was one of those, “Where has the time gone” moments.

Time is precious isn’t it. Benjamin Franklin put it this way, “Time is the stuff life is made of.”

We were looking at some old pictures this week and I made the comment, “There are times I wish I could go back…just for a day (or even an hour) and hold my little kids.” But…I cant’.

Time isn’t a renewable resource. Once you use it…it’s gone forever. You can’t get it back.

It reminds me of the guy who went to see his doctor for his annual checkup and received a phone call a couple of days later. The doctor said, “I’m afraid I have some bad news for you.” “What’s the news? asked the man. “Well,” said the Doctor, “You only have 48 hours to live.” “Wow…that is bad news!” said the man…obviously shocked by the news he had just received. “I’m afraid I have even worse news,” said the Doctor. “What in the world could be worse than what you’ve already told me?” said the patient. “Well,” said the Doctor, “I’m been trying to call you since yesterday!”

I want to spend the next couple of Sunday’s talking about, “What a Difference a Day Makes.” And this morning…I want to specifically talk to you about Treasuring the Time You have Been Given.

Psalm 90:12 - “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

When you number your days…your days will count.

I’ve had some momentus / memorable days in my life:

Day Number One: Monday, January 25, 1971

Day 2922: My 8th birthday.

Day 5844: I got my drivers license.

Day 8132: Graduated from College.

Day 9193: I was licensed to preach.

Day 9359: I met my future wife

Day 9840: I married my wife.

Day 10,250: Our oldest child was born.

Day 11,187: Terrorist attacked the World Trade Center.

Day 11,204: Our middle child was born.

Day 11,664: Moved to Arkansas.

Day 12,159: Our youngest child was born.

Today…I am 49 years, 2 months, and 25 days old. I’ve lived a total of 17,995 days; 431,880 hours; 25,912,800 minutes; 1,554,768,000 seconds.

Man…Where has the time gone?

Doing and exercise like that…numbering your days…does something to you. It puts life in perspective. In fact…doing it made me realize all the more…the brevity of life and the value of every moment. And when you realize those two things…you can begin to develop a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 - “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

If you want to live a life that truly counts…you need to learn to number your days. You’ve got to realize…come to grips with the truth that life is short and that every moment matters.

Now then…Each and every day has several things in common. Understanding these things…will help each of us better see the value in and to treasure each day we’ve been given.

(1) EVERY DAY - BELONGS TO GOD.

Psalm 118:24 - This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

God has entrusted certain things to us: Family, finances, physical bodies…and our time. God has given you today. This is the day the Lord has made. He made it…and He has given it to you as a gift.

We often talk to each other about “Our day.” But we are actually stewards over His day. This is the day the Lord has made. Each day belongs to God…He made it…and it is given to us to serve Him. We are all accountable for what we do with each of the days we’ve been given. So…we should fill our days with all the life we can possibly pack into them. Why? Because the day belongs to God…I need to certain that I make the day count. May we faithfully wake up and use the day God has us wisely…so that we can be all God has called us to be.

Let me encourage you today: Don’t settle for a mediocre life…where one day just runs into the next. Don’t settle for living a bland Christian experience. Don’t take TODAY…THIS DAY for granted. THIS is the day the Lord has made. He made it with YOU in mind! He has given it to you as a gift. Make it count!