Time is running out

2003 is almost gone; in fact many of you will not read this until it has run out and 2004 has kicked in. The years certainly seem to pass quickly, especially the older one gets. This is all the more reason to make the most of it. I have always been fascinated by thinking of eternity as compared to life in this world. Many young people cannot seem to relate to the shortness of this life, apparently they possess an air of invincibility. Older folks have seen death often and the older we get, the more funerals we attend.



I have been accused by some of being obsessed by death; however the Bible tells us to think of it often. Why? Because life is short, being described as a vapor, here for but a while and then gone. Life is not a dress rehearsal, this is a one-time opportunity. We should make the most out of it; well never have this opportunity again. So much is riding on what is accomplished while in this world especially our relationship with Jesus Christ. Indeed our eternity is shaped by our actions during this brief vapor-life.



I spend much of my time planning at this time of year. I want to achieve the maximum with the time that I have remaining. Who knows what the future holds. Will this be the year that the Lord calls me home? Only He knows, but He has told us all to be ready at all times. One thing is certain, I would very much like for Him to tell me that I have done a good job when I face Him. At judgment, Jesus will be right at my side as an advocate and the Bible which cannot err tells me emphatically that my sins will be forgotten, but the rest of my life will require a full accounting.



When I say that I want to achieve the maximum out of life with my goals, Im not talking about accumulating maximum money and possessions for personal pleasure and use, Im talking about obeying Gods commands to the absolute best of my ability. One of my goals is to not only provide for my family, but to grow my possessions enormously. If God gave me a gift of being a good businessman, I assume He has done so in order to use the material wealth accumulated as a result of this gift towards His projects.



Call me ambitious, but I want to achieve something very big for the Lord. I have several projects planned. Some short term, some very long term. My dreams are what goal setting and year-end planning is all about. I will not accomplish anything apart from the will of God and it will require intense prayer to discern what exactly it is He would like for me to undertake on His behalf this year. I have no doubt that he will lead me down the path that he wants me to take because I have seen it before. The key is to be willing to find something to do and actively pursue it. In other words, dont just talk about it, rather come up with a plan and Just do it!



The bottom line is after much prayer and asking the Lord to help us discern His plan for our life to come up with a plan in writing. Understand your God-given gifts and utilize them to the maximum. Perhaps you are not a good business person, yet you have a real talent as a musician and could help in the choir or orchestra at your church, or you have a gift whereby you can walk right up to a stranger and unabashedly tell them about Jesus on visitation nights, or maybe you are just a tremendous cook who would be much appreciated by some poor people in a homeless shelter, or maybe you have a gift for visiting little children suffering cancer in a hospital, maybe you could mow the lawn at the church or a helpless widow, or serve on a committee, or visit a stranger in prison. God has something for everyone in His church. We all have gifts, what are yours and how can they be used to glorify God and reach others on His behalf? Set the goals; develop a plan and then execute it to perfection. It will require some work and time spent away from normal interests, but the rewards will be worth it 100,000,000,000,000 years from now and beyond. Talk about long-term capital gains…But hurry now, the vapor is curling towards the sky…



Rev. 22:12

And behold I am coming

quickly, and My reward is with me,

to give to every one according to

his work.

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the Beginning and the End, the

First and the Last.

How well do you know the Bible?

What is the greatest gift according to the Bible?

1 Cor. 13:1-13







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