"And that, knowing the time, it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we began" (Rom. 13:11 ). One might draw anyone of several lessons from this rich verse, but we are impressed with the phrase, "knowing the time." Men need to have a knowledge of time. Time is an extremely valuable commodity and the more we know about it the better it will serve us. What is it to know the time?

It means to know of its value. A pearl indeed is this thing called "time," and yet it is often treated as merely something to be used and wasted at our whim. We measure our very lives by time, and it rapidly slips away from us. We have so little of it. Your Bible records for you, in the four gospels, the life of Jesus. Here we see a man that made good use of his time. He only had about three and one half years of it to spend in a public way, and yet see the rich blessings because he used it wisely. Look at Jesus as an exam­ple of how to spend time; learn how he used it, and in this you will learn the true value of time. More than this, you will want to use what you have wisely.

It means to know about its responsibili­ties. God existed before there was such a thing as time. When he made his universe and all things therein, time necessarily came into being, for neither that universe nor its inhabitants are from eternity. Since God placed us in time, we necessarily owe a large portion of it to him. We must realize our responsibilities in time to the God that gave it to us. We have the duty of exerting the right influence while here, for we shall give account as to how we handle this blessing of time just as we shall any other. It is said that Ignatius once observed, upon hearing the striking of a clock, "Now I have one hour more to account for."

It means to know about its uncertainty. We may not have it tomorrow. "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest now what a day may bring forth" (Pro. 27:1). See also the teaching of James on this subject ( 4:13 -14). Who among us is certain about the matter of time? We have all known those who thought they had a good deal of it left, only to have it taken from them in an hour when they least ex­pected it. Like the rich fool, many have thought they had "much goods laid up for many years," only to have it taken from them that very hour (Lk. 12:19 ). How shattering then is the statement, "thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of you" (v. 20)?

It means to know of its powerlessness. Contrary to popular belief, time is for the most part very powerless and inef­fectual. I for one do not buy the old ad­age that "time heals all wounds." All time might do is to take some of the edge off, but it is not a healing agent insofar as God is concerned. When we sin, time cannot erase it. Only repen­tance and obedience to God's will can do that. Sin unrepented of will still face us in the judgment, even if that judg­ment is a million years hence. Time may bring our lives to an end, but it is powerless to destroy the soul.

It means to know that it is irrevocable. Time past can never be reused, nor re­turned. When it is gone, it is gone for­ever. How many wasted years do many spend, only to arrive at life's end and realize that their time is gone!! You can't reach into the past and drag it along, like you would accumulate sick leave on your job. No, any more than you can do the same thing with the fu­ture. Don't go to the end of your life, look back and see many perfectly "un­used years" and then long for them. You may see them there, but they will be beyond your power to reach them. Each year is good for only a certain pe­riod, and when it is gone, it is irrecoverable.

Let us "know the time," and use it wisely. - Bill Moseley 

"Behold, thou has made my days as a handbreadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity" (Psa. 39:5).

Since we have been dealing with "time" in this issue (see article on front page), it ought to move us to also reflect on the brevity of our lives. God's word deals extensively with this matter. The Psalmist said his days were "as a handbreadth," indicating that which is few, or narrow. Compared to an eternal God, "mine age is as nothing," he said. Then he star­tlingly describes "man at his best" for us, and says it is "vanity!"

It makes no difference to God if man is great or small, rich or poor, for "surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the bal­ance, they are altogether lighter than van­ity" (Psa. 62:9). Compared to God, both the man of low degree and the man of high degree cannot tip the scale of great­ness in their favor.

Man has learned many things. Modern technology allows us to do and see things we never dreamed possible a few years ago. This is well and good - so long as we don't get the idea that we no longer need God. Man boasts of his accom­plishments and as the Psalmist goes on to say, "every man walketh in vain show." He then observes, "he heapeth up riches." This sounds good to the materially minded - except when we suddenly real­ize that these riches shall not always be ours, for man "knoweth not who shall gather them."

We have been to the moon, that silvery sphere that orbits our earth, and think of our great progress in getting there, and in a sense, "walk in vain show." But what about the God that put that moon there? Is it easier to put it there or go to it? Medical science has devel­oped cures for once diseases, and we extol these efforts at saving life. But what about the God that gives that life in the first place? Is it easier to save life or to give it? Our modem en­gineers have spanned vast chasms, built super-highways over towering peaks that we may travel in safety and comfort. But what about the God who put the mountains and canyons there to begin with? It is easier to make a mountain or build a puny road over it?

Now we do not mean to belittle dedi­cated men in these and other fields. I with most men stand in awe of what man has accomplished. I am ever thankful that God gave us strength of mind to accomplish the things we have for mankind's benefit. But in all of this, may we never forget that our God is greater than them all. May we never forget that we are weak men, subject to vanity, regardless of what we may hae been able to accomplish.

Truly, compared to God, "man at his best is altogether vanity." -  Bill Moseley

 

 

Saw it the other day; a huge billboard, the owners of which in an obvious effort to obtain some revenue, had it rented out to two different folks. On the left side, emblazoned in big letters was the word "DIVORCE." A closer look showed it to be an attorney that specialized in proba­bly violating God's law at every turn. Had his name and number. Tired of your spouse? Just call this guy and he can fix it for you. Real handy if it were not so tragic.

But what about the other end of said billboard? Had a picture of wedding rings, an obvious advertisement by a local jeweler who evidently specialized in symbols of wedded bliss. Truth to tell, I never saw a sign that had two things, one on each end, that were more opposites!

Made me wonder - is that way our lives are? Does our thinking and speaking square with our lives? Do we have "two ends" to our lives, one of which is dia­metrically opposed to the other? If so, something is wrong. Yet I fear some folks are like that. Seem to want to serve the Lord, and yet let the world get such a hold on them that they are unhappy and miserable whichever one they try to live up to.

Every Christian is a "walking billboard" for the Lord. Let's make sure "both ends of our sign" agree with each other - anything less than that is hypocrisy gone to seed! - Bill Moseley