Seize the Day
Time - where does it go, and why does it seem to go so quickly? How often have you heard, or even said these words yourself: "Where has the year gone?" Or - "It seems like only yesterday, that my big, tall, lanky teenager was crawling around on the floor."
I heard someone put the whole thing into perspective this way: "You know, when I was 16, 60 seemed like forever; seemed like it was so far off. But now it seems just like yesterday that I was 16 and saying that." Billy Graham was asked what the biggest surprise of his life was - "The brevity of it," was his instant reply.
I guess it's somewhere in our mid 20s (or is it earlier?) when we realize that time is limited. From then on, it's as if time hits the accelerator and never slows down. The speed of sound and the speed of light have a companion called the speed of time. And when you realize the speed at which your life is racing by, maybe it's time to consider whether or not you are using the time at your disposal - efficiently!
Psalm 90 takes note of the passing of time, and that its brevity and fast pace should not catch you unaware: "The length of our days is 70 years, 80 if we have the strength. They quickly pass and we fly away." And not to leave us without a plan on how to use our quickly disappearing time, the Psalmist calls upon God to take us in hand - "Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Now it's true that life seems to overwhelm us. The days just sort of slip by and then the days become weeks, and weeks become months, and we don't know where they went and nor can we point to much which we have accomplished. If we are honest, we have to admit that there wasn't any plan, and no thought went into anything. We just seem to plod along - and like someone said: "if you aim at nothing, you get nowhere!"
But here in the Bible we have a call not to waste our days or hours or minutes: "Teach us to number our days aright."Let us awaken each morning with an awareness that this 24 hours is a gift not to be wasted, and that we will never have the opportunity to live them again.
The first thing to consider is - "Where do I stand in relation to Christ and His work of salvation?" Isn't it interesting that the Bible's call to make sure that we are saved for all eternity, is stated in terms of "time": "Today, if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts......But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today', so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3)
The writer of Hebrews is urging you right now - today, this very minute - to make sure that you have not hardened your heart to reject the Lord Jesus Christ and His salvation. When Paul was asked what the Philippian jailer had to do to be saved he replied with urgency in his voice: "Believe in the Lord Jesus (right now, this very minute) Christ and you shall be saved, you and your household..." (Acts 16:32)
The second important way in which you are to use your time wisely, and show that you are learning the lesson to number your days, is found in Moses' command to the Lord's people: "Set yourselves apart to the LORD today..." God's people are called to commit themselves to Him, 24/7. Jesus said "Seek first the Kingdom of God" and dedicate all that you have been given (all that you have, has been given to you by God) in the service of the Lord. Your work, your family life, your money, your possessions, your time and so on, ALL should be used to glorify God, to extend His Kingdom. Jesus must always be in the driver's seat of your life.
The third important way to use your time is to live out the Gospel - to show the love of Christ at work in your life. There are people who need you, a chance to give and receive love. How often do we walk by on the other side, because we are too busy, too pre-occupied with self. If people have hurt you ask God to heal that hurt, don’t remove yourself - each day you walk away is a day lost.
We need to let God teach us to number our days. Remember the words of Jesus in this regard: "They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (Matthew 25)
And of course a day used wisely will have included Bible study, prayer and on the Lord's Day (Sunday) - worshipping with His people. Are you harnessing each day, to live so that others can see Christ in you? Are you allowing God to teach you to number your days? "This is the day the Lord has made." Use it to His glory, serve Him 24/7.
When a pilot flies a plane, he just doesn't cruise wherever he feels like. The pilot has to file a flight plan of where he is going. When you come to each day, file a flight plan for that day; seize that day. Don't just let that day happen to you. Pray for it, plan for it, make it count. Well used days may fly by just as fast, but they will land you where you want to land - in heaven. Grace and peace....