Time… the only precious commodity I can truly say is mine to decide what to do with. I choose how I will spend my time. Sure there are those things in life that demand of it, some things more forcefully demanding than others. Still the choice remains mine whether to give in to those demands or not. And then there are those things in life that steal it from me. Some leaving no trace of ever even being there and others leaving an imprint in place of the time stolen. Time, it seems, is more precious than diamonds and gold. I read in James 4:14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Time, my time, in which I have no guarantee of how much will be allotted, is the priceless value I have, individually, to offer the world. It’s no wonder why it’s another thing the enemy twists and turns into deceptive traps meant to keep me in bondage. The enemies traps are relentless, merciless, contemplative and set up for his amusement, as he takes pleasure in watching me struggle, getting torn down, and broken as I try to escape. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
So I asked myself, who do I honor with my time myself or God? Have I surrendered my time to Father God becoming alert and ready at any hour to drop my own plans answering His call to serve? Is my faith in Him and His understanding capable of pushing my own judgment of the circumstances aside without question? Or are there limits within my surrendering to His Will over my life?
What I do with my time reflects the desires of my heart. It is the trial, the test, the marker of Truth so to speak. Is God a religious hobby I sometimes find time for or is He a personal relationship I cherish and mold into my everyday life? Do my actions prove His importance and place Him above all things or do my lips speak righteousness while my actions prove selfish and lazy? If time is my only true offering, how much does the God that died a brutal death to save me receive of it?
How often do I find believable, highly convincing reasons to excuse myself from the guilt of not doing the things I know I should be doing and instead doing the things I know I shouldn’t be doing? . Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. The truth is sadly, my reasons may sound good and I may be able to convince myself and others of their fairness and that my reasons are justified, and still I’m only fooling myself. The reality is, I know what I should be doing and its an extremely rare occasion that my circumstances truly stand in the way of my ability to do what I know is right.
So what am I seriously thinking will happened the day I stand before the Lord? As the truth laid bare and undeniable, what am I going to say? Do I actually believe my reasons, excuses and Alibis will hold any weight when Jesus asks me why? Why didn’t I read his word? Why didn’t I use my time wisely? Why didn’t I swallow my pride? Why didn’t I love the unlovable? Why didn’t I watch my mouth? Why didn’t I give more of my time? Why didn’t I see the idols of time wasters in my life? Why didn’t I speak only encouragement and uplifting words to others? Why was my way better than His? Why were my thoughts higher than His? Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
My selfish comforts are not meant to be the focus of my attention. To deny myself and take up my cross and follow Him means if I am demanding my rights, my way, my happiness, my comforts, my proper respect and appreciation from others, etc. Then I am not following or echoing the heart of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No matter how convincingly I can argue the validity of my reasons, all they would sound like even to my own ears when repeated to Jesus Himself, is excuses.
Although I believe Father GOD cares very much for my comfort, I know He will not insure my comfort at the expense of my eternal soul. To look within myself and without sugar coating, excusing, pretending or turning a blind eye to what I see, will most unquestionably hurt. My illusion about who I am, that same illusion I try to pass off as who I am to others, will have to be pulled out of me root and all. This is absolutely guaranteed to cause me pain, frustration and many tears as the root goes deep. Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Until next time may God bless you and keep you as you seek Him with your whole heart.