An Appointed Time

My ten year reunion was this past weekend. Being hit with the reality that ten years have already passed since I graduated high school is causing me to marvel at the speed of life. And to hear others tell it, it only speeds up more and more. The message yesterday morning only served to hammer the point home...


Richard's sermon was from Hebrews 9:27. It was a fresh reminder of the brevity of life, the importance of our actions, and the finality of death.


               "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..."


This verse is clear. We have one shot at life. We have our time under the Sun, and then we are judged. We cannot wait until we are dead to soften our hearts to God's call. We cannot go on forever putting off a real devotion to Christ, as sure death awaits each one of us. No amount of prayer for our departed souls will do us any good when our bodies lie in the ground. The stakes are high. Tomorrow is not promised. Today we walk onto history's stage and leave the legacy we will leave--in our homes, our businesses, and our churches.




                    "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."


                                                                                 and


                      "Redeeming the time because the days are evil."


Today is an opportunity to come humbly to God, to be changed by his grace, to behold his love for us in Christ and reflect that love to others. I pray for myself, the youth, and the adults, that our hearts would not be deceived about our station in life. Let us be humbled to know our fragile state. Our bodies will break down. They will surely fail us. May we use the strength in them to love sincerely from the heart, preaching the gospel in word and deed, making the most of our small time here. May God be glorified in us, his church, his people.