King Solomon wrote this as he looked back at his life.
-- The work we do is a gift of God!
-- We don't endure forever -- our lives on this earth are finite.
Time is Fleeting.
"13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”" James 4:13-15
“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.[a]
6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be." Psalm 39:4-6
Time is short for us.
God only knows the time we have.
"Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away." Psalm 90:10
"Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
We have a limited amount of time. Make each day important. When you number something it's important. Each day, each year, each hour is important. Our days are important. If we don't make the most of each one we lose it. Each breath, each second can be a offering to God.
Time is a Blessing.
"8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9
God wants us to live as much as we can -- see as many souls saved as we can. Now, now, now -- is what we humans think. God's timing is perfect! When we think it isn't, we are arrogant and so very wrong. God has grace and mercy -- He doesn't want to lose anyone. Time is a blessing -- another opportunity to love and share.
Time will end.
"For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains." Matthew 24:5-8
Don't focus on things happening around us. Focus on Jesus and loving people for Jesus.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’" Matthew 25:31-36
Don't be caught off guard not watching.
If someone important was planning on showing up at your house you would prepare and watch. How much more should we do this for Jesus.
"41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “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?’ 45 “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.’"Matthew 25:41-45
Time is Ticking.
"Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
The clock is ticking on every human life.
The Urgency of Time -- Be Intentional.
"15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." Ephesians 5:15-17
Live it with drive, with intention. Live for Jesus. Love God will all of yourself. Love everyone wholly. Love on each other. Be wise. Make the most of every opportunity to love. Nobody is going to care what you did at the end. They want to know if they are loved. They need to know Jesus and believe in Him.
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5
If You knew, what would you do?
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Galatians 6:10
Am I living intentionally for Jesus? There will be no do-overs when we stand before Jesus.
What does God want you to do?
"As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work."
John 9:4
We have limited time and limited opportunity.
The Day is Coming.
"31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left." Matthew 25:31-33
At the end we will be separated by what we did for Jesus.
"41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “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?’45 “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.’" Matthew 25:41-45
You did not do what you were supposed to do.
What have you done with the time You have been given?
What are we waiting for?
All you gotta do is get moving.
"36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”"
Matthew 12:36-37
Let's see what you did for me.
"Empty words."
"So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." Romans 14:12
What matters is what I did with my life for Jesus.
If you choose NOT to do what is right that is a sin: a sin of omission.
We deserve nothing. He gave us everything.
We deserve hell. He offers heaven.
Time is short.