Your Condition Is Not Your Conclusion Part 1

Introduction:

The word time is a word that is often taken for granted. We are all guilty of often wasting time. We are all guilty of not using our time wisely. The old cliché says, “Time waits on no man.”

The American Heritage College Dictionary defines time as a nonspatial continuum in which events occur in an apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future. So therefore time is something we don’t have much of. Many of us sitting here in this church have often wished that we could recapture the past. We have often said “I sure wish I could turn back the hands of time.”

Time is one of the most valuable thing that God has given us. Well we can waste money and it’s okay. Well preacher I’m not following you on that one. We have an opportunity to earn or get more money by not spending so much of it or by working a part time job to earn more of it. But on the other hand wasted time is wasted time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. There is no earning it back, there is no negotiating it back, and there’s definitely no buying it back. Time only comes from God.

Development

For the few moments that are mine I just want to expound on two points. I’ll try not to be to long.

Point Number One: “When It’s Time To Go To Your Island Of Patmos”

There comes a time in life that we have to remove ourselves from everyone and everything. There are going to be some situations that require all of our attention, mental discipline, and concentration.

There’s going to come a time when advice from family and friends isn’t going to mean much. And as far as going to couseling, save your money. It’s not going to work either.

But I just wanted to share with you where you can go to seek counsel, peace, and solutions for some unanswered questions. It’s going to come a time where a preacher can’t be found or your pastor may be tied up and can’t get to you, or he may even be out of town.

But there’s a place you can go that can give you all the answers you seek. That place is called your “Island of Patmos.”

I know we have some Bible scholars in here with degrees, but I’m not talking about that place where John was exiled that was about 20 miles long and 10 miles wide that that a high mountain that reached almost an altitude of 500 feet.

I’m not talking about that place when John went into the mountains and received revelations from God. I’m not talking about that kind of physical place.

I’m simply talking about a place that you can go to seek God’s face.

I know 2 Chronicles 7:14 says: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

You need a place where it’s just you and God. A place that has peace. A place that is tranquil. This has to be a place and a time of separation.

This is a place where the television is off. This is a place where the cell phones and land phones are turned off. This is quiet talk between you and God.

That why we can say “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.” That’s why the song writer wrote the song “Steal Away.” Sometimes you have to steal away with just you and God so you can seek his face for some answers.

Going to your Island of Patmos is not a fun place. Some tears are going to be shed and some pain and suffering is going on at this time. This is a time of fasting. Now Hezekiah found himself in this situation. Hezekiah understood quite well the meaning of time.

Now the scripture says: In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.

I don’t know about you, but if someone were to come and tell me to get my house in order it would take me for a loop. Come on now. Let’s keep this thing real. We all want to live and to continue to enjoy this thing called life. We want to continue to enjoy our friends and loved ones.

The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."

Hezekiah was devastated by the news for two reasons:

 One: He wanted to live. Hezekiah wanted life just like the rest of us. I don’t know about you, but I want to live as long as I can. I want to see Jesus for myself but I want to meet him in the future and not right now.