Time
Our time is short on this earth. Depending on your view of the earth’s age would determine our length of life impact. Some would say the earth is millions of years old, others 6,000 years. As of this writing it is the year 2023. I believe we all can agree there has been at least 2,023 years. I will use this amount as the basis for this blog.
When we read the obituaries, we are reminded how quickly life can end. Let’s say someone were to die today at the age of 100. We would think that is a long life, but when we compare it to the last 2,023 years, it is only half of a percent of that time. Not even 1%! In that perspective, it was not a long life.
With what do we spend our time? When we look around, we find some who spend it pursuing fame, wanting someday to have their name to be on the Hollywood walk of fame. Others may spend it trying to become a sports athlete and one day have their name in the Hall of Fame. Yet others, may spend their half of a percent on gaming, partying, drugs, careers, wealth, and other pursuits in this world.
We are located near Green Bay, Wisconsin. What we see in this city is a football team that everyone cherishes. Some paint their homes after the team colors, decorate their cars with the logo or spend their hard-earned money pursuing this franchise. When they win it all, the city will name a street after individuals on the team. We have Holmgren Way, McCarthy Avenue, Lombardi Avenue, Favre Pass. If any of these people were to live to 100, they would have spent their half of a percent of time having their name on a street. In knowing how little time we have, what should we be doing?
James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Our life is but a vapor, here one day and gone the next. In Job 8:9, life is compared to a shadow which disappears quickly. If we think of our ½ percent of time, we are cognizant it passes quickly. What would be best to pursue?
If half a percent of time doesn’t make you realize how small of an impact we have and what you should be utilizing your time on, maybe this example will. A day has 24 hours. Half of a percent of 24 hours is 1.2 hours. If we had 1.2 hours left, would we spend it watching a half of football, at a bar, purchasing some material item? Rather, with only half of a percent of time in the last 2,023 years, this is what we should pursue:
Revelation 21:27
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
In Revelation 21, we find a description of New Jerusalem which is prepared for those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. The only ones who are allowed to enter are the ones who have their names in the book. Not the ones who have a street named after them, are enshrined in a Hall of Fame or have their name written on a sidewalk. Rather, it’s that their name is the lamb’s book of like.
Ephesians 5:15-17
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
We have less than half of a percent of the last 2,023 years. How should we spend what we have? According to the book of Ephesians, we should redeem (buy back) our time from the worthless things of this world and be wise, spending our time on the things of God. For it is the foolish person who pursues their name on the things of this world, but rather the wise who desires their name in the Lamb’s book of life. When we understand God’s will, that of repentance, we begin the process of adding our name to the book of life. How will you spend your half of a percent?
