How Much Time Lord? A baby lies peacefully in a hospital bed, just having experienced the miracle of birth…but doesn’t know it.The parents linger at the window memorizing every feature and sound, unaware of the future or any time past this moment of exhilaration.
A young girl anticipates her entrance into her teen years; wanting to be like her big sister, free to stay out late, wear cosmetics and go out with boys.How she wished adults understood but they are all so narrow minded.Longing to be free of authority she starts making plans for the exciting years ahead.
A senior gentlemen stares longingly out the nursing home window, wishing he could go back in time…maybe to change things; if he could just remember …if he could only remember…His wife passed just two years before, heart disease they said it was and his children…well they’re busy, very busy.
Two people hold each other as they stare at the devastation caused by a tropical storm.Lost everything, there’s nothing even to look at accept debris that they once called home.Start over?They question whether they can at their age or even if they want to.Heartbroken and feeling lost and helpless…where is God now?
Time – a friend or enemy?
For several months I have felt the need to explore the words of God hoping to understand why I have felt so useless and unaccomplished for Him.Oh, I understand that I have been busy and I know my heart is right but still…there is a nagging, a voice inside that says ‘look around, there is so much to do, so many need help,’ and then I get that sinking feeling that time is passing way too fast.I’m considered a senior citizen now, I grin (or is that a grimace) when I think about that, but truthfully I dwell on the question of just ‘how much time do I have to do my part’?However, since often times I’m not sure what my part is, I continue to question the strength of my efforts.
One of my favorite verses that I rely on often is Proverbs 16:3“Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established.”He has kept that promise every time; He has completed every work that He has chosen for me and He has even given me clear thoughts to see those goals come to fruition.Yet when I look back, especially over my not so senior years, I recognize that time somehow went by at break neck speed.
Truly there is much to be done. It is easy for me now to commit my works to God.I know that my endeavors are much more likely to succeed when I have turned it over to God and for God.Yet there are times that I seem to be forging ahead in slow motion.I can’t seem to get enough done in the time allotted.I recognize that I am slowing down physically but I still have the desire to serve as I once did.
How much time do we have to serve the Lord and make a difference in the lives of those in need?It might be only a minute…perhaps a month or even a couple of years – how focused are you on the will of God in your life.What would He have you do if he could get your attention?
We know, especially if we read the book of Esther, that God will accomplish His work, with or without us.He will get it done.There are other things however, that we need to be responsible for - that only we can achieve because it falls under the heading of ‘personal’.
For example:Health - We may call on God to heal us when we are struggling physically yet ignore what we are to do about it.God has always expected us to put feet to our needs.In other words, just as He sends out a missionary to spread the Gospel, He may send us out of our comfort zone to take care of our own body and minds.
God can heal my allergy problem but if I am allergic to domestic animals, such as cats and dogs but go out and purchase one of them (but they are so cute and they keep me company!) I can then hardly expect God to heal me.Why?I would advise that you not take God for granted or take advantage of Him.He is not there to do your bidding…if something causes you to react in such a way that causes suffering that you bring on yourself; if is safe to say that you are responsible for the affect and you do not need God to eradicate it…you need to prohibit the very thing that causes distress.
You may be thinking about I Peter 2:21 where it says “…Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps”Yes, Christ did suffer – He suffered for us because of us and we should be following in his steps of suffering.There is a difference however, of suffering for the cause of Christ and suffering because of selfish indulgence.Be sure you evaluate the two and fix what you can, then God will fix what He will.
Then you might say “wait a minute, sometimes God allows the suffering and expects us to move forward regardless of the situation it puts us in”.If that happens, you can rest assured that God is using you for a greater purpose in his kingdom plan.Again, if that happens He will be with you through it all, and He would prepare you for the trial.
Getting back to time – Often, we call out to God “how much longer?”You see, along with wondering how much time we have to serve Him there is the question of how much longer do we have to endure painful circumstances especially when it concerns other people.
Recently a family member died of a terrible disease that had no medical cure.Everyone in our family was devastated and mortified because none of us could do anything to help eliminate the suffering.Her testimony was sweet.Her husband was faithful to meet all of her needs humanly possible and to live out all of his promises to her.But I know that we were all asking at one time or another… “God, how much longer.”I even questioned why.It didn’t seem to make sense and as days went into weeks and weeks into months, the importance and strength of that question grew to an obsession.
How much time Lord?
I know that my sister must have wondered how much longer… I know I did.I would question, Lord, what is the purpose of this suffering? He never revealed the answer but He always filled me with peace reminding me of how much He loved her.Could it be possible that God could love her more than her husband and children…more than I?The pain, my pain, was so horrid that I couldn’t imagine any one loving her more.I know of course how egocentric that sounds and I know of course that her husband and children loved her far deeper, in ways that can only be attributed to those relationships and of course I know that God loves her far greater and deeper than any of us can imagine.I knew.I know, but that didn’t alleviate the pain at all…but it did teach me a lesson.
I assume that all of us received personal enlightenment in our quiet moments of prayer and outward moments of witnessing this trauma .I’ve seen and been with many who have passed away.Some assured of salvation, others I will not be sure of until I myself enter the gates of heaven.My personal lesson was on the fragility of life and the relative aging process.I’ve re-evaluated my importance and purpose.
I have a purpose.It is to do the will of God while I can.I know without a doubt that God will complete every good work that He started in and through me.I am assured of that in Philippians 1:6“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”In other words, what He starts in me, I may never see the completion of but Jesus will see it to its conclusion.
I don’t like getting older.I never thought I would feel this way but the older I get the more agitated I get about how I look and feel and I wonder just how much time I have left to be of service.The question leaves me wanting to fill every moment with good stuff- like: laughter, hugging, sending cards for no reason, eating hot fudge sundae’s, riding my bike and swimming in a pond without bugs!It also causes me to reflect on all of those that I know do not have Jesus as their personal Savior and friend.That alone assures me that regardless of how much time I am gifted with, the work of prayer and spreading the message of love and life eternal through Christ will be my work until I draw my last breath.
Don’t take time for granted.It’s not something we ever really control.I don’t want to look back and say “Lord, I wasted my time…forgive me” – Do you?
Walking in Peace / division of C.O.P.E. Women's Ministries Sue Puff, author