I recently heard someone illustrate human life expectancy by comparing it to a clock. The idea was that if someone is 22 it?s 8:20 in the morning. If you?re 32 it?s 11:20 A.M. If you?re 42 it?s 3:20 in the afternoon, if you?re 52 it?s 6:20 P.M. If you are an average American you will live 25,550 days.

As I was considering this logic it occurred to me that the problem with this illustration is that it doesn?t tell us when bedtime is. The reality is that only God knows the number of our days. The Average American may live 25,550 days but I never wanted to be average anyway. My life expectancy clock may say it?s around 4:00 P.M. But what if I?m going to poop out and go to bed at 7:00 P.M. (hey, it?s happened a few times) then I really won?t have a lot of time left. It may be midnight on your dock but if you?re gong to be up all night anyway what difference does it make. Time is a very relative concept. Two weeks on vacation always seems a lot shorter than two weeks with your spouse?s family visiting. The truth is that we should spend more time considering what we do with our time rather than how much time we have. The Bible says, ?Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.? (Psalm 90:12, NLT).

The question is not ?How much time do I have?? but rather ?Will I use my time to grow? Jesus only had about 33 years to walk the earth and yet he changed the course of history. In fact, His life and death are the dividing point of history. Of Jesus? 33 years only about three were spent in the public eye. What Jesus did for the years leading up to his public ministry has been the subject of much speculation ? most of it silly. The Bible doesn?t give a lot of information about how Jesus spent his time during his first 30 years but there is one verse that tells about Jesus? growing time. ?And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52, NIV) Jesus spent his time growing and when the time came for Him to fulfill his purpose, He was ready. What time is it in your life? Time to grow! If you don?t do anything with your life it doesn?t matter how much time you have. It?s not the duration of our lives that counts it?s the donation ? what you give.

It?s not how long you live but how you live that will make a difference in this life and for eternity. ?Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.? (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV) I pray that we all make the most of the opportunities that we are given and even if ?bedtime? should come sooner than we anticipate, we can rest assured that our lord will never leave us or forsake us. ?Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.? (Psalms 139:7-8 NIV)

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Published on: 2005-08-31 (1758 reads)