Dear Ones,
Dates on a calendar are merely humanly contrived ways to measure time. There is a cyclic rhythm to its passing. In some cultures people just live without consciously marking anything but the present. They remember past events but dates matter little if at all to some. But the remembrance of past events and the conscious awareness of time’s passing is a very biblical thing to do. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Ps 90:12). “Remember Him - before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well…” (Ecc 12:6). We are exhorted throughout the scriptures to remember God’s past faithfulness and to seek Him in the present. I always profit from a review of my life thus far. It prompts me to praise the One who made, called and has sustained me to date. As redeemed people, it is good for us to both purpose to remember God’s faithfulness and to seek Him now, in the moment in which we are living. Days, months, years, decades, holidays and life spans will pass, yet He remains constant in all the seeming order and chaos. Let’s see - I am in the middle of my 57th year. Not counting the time since my last birthday that gives fifty seven times 12 equals 684 months, or 20,805 days (not counting leap years). Holidays, birthdays, events get blurry in one’s memory and things run together. Yet in all this there is a constant - God! His mercy flavors my memories though tough as well as triumphant times. In all the transient happenings of our lives, this exhortation never changes although it can be expressed in a variety of ways: “Keep the faith,” “stay the course,” “run the race,” fix your eyes on Jesus.” Dear one, now is the appointed time! Today is the time of God’s favor. Seek Him, serve Him, enjoy Him. God is the Lord of eternity, the “Potentate of Time.” While to us it may seem that our lives are running through our fingers like a handful of sand it is how we are spending that which He has given us that matters, not the mere fact of its passing. Each day when we arise praise Him for it. Praise Him for one more opportunity to serve, know and live as His child. A time is coming when time shall have no further relevance to us, when we shall simply be as He is and always has been. And eternity will be all the more enjoyable because we will be there together.
On another note, we are starting a new bible study on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM on "Bible Basics." It will meet at the parsonage and will begin at 7:00 PM and end at 8:30 PM. The study begins next Tuesday (the 9th). For more information call 530 249-0923.