1. There is a timetable for God's eternal programs, Mark 1:15; cf. Gal 4:4; Acts 17:26; Acts 1:7
2. God does everything in His own time, even in our needs or crises, John 2:4; cf. Ecc. 3:11; Heb. 4:16.
3. God has a plan and time for each one of us, John 7:6, 8; 8: 20; cf. Psa. 31:15; Ecc. 3:1-8
4. Our time is just passing away, John 9:4 cf. Psa. 89:47; 90:12
5. All our activities must be based on this awareness; John 9:4; 13:1, 12: 28; 17:1 cf. Rom. 13:11; Eph. 5:15, 16
6. We should complete our duties in time, John 19:30 cf. 2Tim. 4:7
Outline:2
Five Points of Time
1. The fullness of the times, Gal 4:4 - The birth of Christ.
2. The consummation of ages, Heb 9:26- The cross of Christ.
3. The end of the age, Matt 13:39 - Close of the age of grace.
4. The fullness of time, Eph. 1:10 - The millennium.
5. The end of time, 1Cor 15: 24 - New Heavens & New Earth
Source: unknown
Anecdote: 1
Time is Money
If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,000 that carried over no balance from day to day. If you were allowed to keep no cash in your account and every evening, the system would cancel whatever part of the amount you failed to use during the day, what would you do? Draw out every cent every day, of course, and use it to your advantage!
Well, you have such a bank, and its name is TIME! Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it rules off as lost whatever of this you failed to invest in a good purpose. It carries over no balances, and it allows no overdrafts.
Each day, it opens a new account with you. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow.
Source Unknown
Anecdote:2
The Time We Use
According to a study published in 2017 on how much the average American spends on various activities during his or her lifetime of 78 years:
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Sleeping: 28.3 years
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Working: 10.5 years
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Television, video games, social networking: 9 years
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Doing chores: 6 years
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Eating and drinking: 4 years
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Education: 3.5 years
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Grooming: 2.5 years
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Shopping: 2.5 years
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Child care: 1.5 years
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Commuting: 1.3 years
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Living to accomplish personal goals: 9 years
Alexander Atkins
Anecdote: 3
The Folly of the Wise
The story is told about Sir Isaac Newton, the famous scientist, who lived in the 17th century. He had two pet cats, a mother cat and her kitten. They wanted to go out or come into his study. They troubled him to open the door for them whenever he was busy.
He thought of an idea and called in the carpenter to make two holes in his door for both cats to be able to go in and out of the room. He sent instruction that there should be a large hole for the mother and a small hole for the kitten in the door.
When the carpenter came, he had a good laugh at the idea. When Sir Isaac questioned his humour, the carpenter replied, "Don't you think that one hole was enough for both cats to go through? The kitten could go through the same hole as its mother." Sir Isaac Newton did indeed look very foolish that day for there was no need for two doors when one was good enough.
Source: Unknown
Meditation:
God, Who Crowns the Year
"You crown the year with Your goodness" Psalm 65:11a
Often in retrospection only we see the good things in life. Many look forward with worry and doubt. But as we look back to the path that we already tread, we can't but burst out in gratitude to God Almighty for all the benefits and blessings that He has graciously poured upon our life.
Here the Psalmist meditates upon the blessings God bestows upon His creation. Verse eleven is the summary - God crowns the year with His goodness. From the beginning of the year to the end, His eyes are upon His people and He fills the earth with His goodness. (Duet. 11:12).
Think of the rain in its seasons, the sunshine that gives new life and the air that we breathe freely, all speak of the care and faithfulness of the Creator. Not only that, consider the way God upholds and protects His creation. We can certainly confess as the Psalmist does, "You crown the year with Your goodness."
Then, let us not wait for another year-end to acknowledge the gracious provisions of the Lord. Each moment, even now His eyes are upon us to beautify our days, weeks, and months. So, let trust Him wholeheartedly for the days ahead. He is not only our 'Ebenezer'; He is our 'Jehovah-Jireh' too.
Worthy Quotes:
"I am satisfied that when the Almighty wants me to do or not to do any particular thing, he finds a way of letting me know it."
_________ Abraham Lincoln
"I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer."
_________ Martin Luther
