TIME

Musick-al Note # 252
Time is the most precious commodity that the human race is given. Whether squandered, lost, killed or well used, enjoyed and lived, when time is gone, it is never recovered. The hour, day, week, month, or year that has passed can only contain that which was put into it when it was a present fleeting reality. To grieve over past time that was lost or misused is only adding insult to injury. To pine for a future time to come can only increase one’s loss for the present that is spent in such pursuits is adding to time already lost. We really have only the present moment in which to live. The minutes of the last hour are gone forever and the minutes of the next may never come. While we may, and I think should, plan for a future, we should never be overly anxious about tomorrow. As Jesus said, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. Each day has troubles enough of its own.” Then we ought to live today, work today, love today and use today in God’s service.
Potentially, young people have more time than anyone else. Yet, when they are twenty (just ready to be on their own and make their own decisions in life), time for them is already one-fourth gone. This is potential time only, for we know not the hour of our passing from this life. While they may have three-fourths of their time left, they may be already far spent or have an hour left or half their time, we do not know. Potential time is figured on the three score and ten or perhaps four score years mentioned in the Bible. Therefore if you are over forty, your time is half gone, if you are sixty then three-fourths is gone, if nearing eighty or over, then time is nearly gone.
What we will do with the amount of potential time remaining in our lives depends upon what we do today. We are now that which we will become. If great things are expected in life, we must be doing those things that lead to greatness. If we expect to be great workers in the kingdom, we must be doing the great work of the kingdom today. If we are going to be soul-winners in the future (if such we have), we must be winning souls today. Young people may not be aware of this but none can sow to the lust of the flesh today and reap the harvest of spiritual living tomorrow. Whether in youth, middle age or old age, one who will become spiritual in the future potential time, must be spiritual in the fleeting moments of today. To excuse self by saying that we have plenty of time is tempting God and playing with eternal disaster in Hell. Time is a gift from God to man, given that man may prepare for an eternity with Him. Therefore we must not squander, misuse, lose or kill that which God graciously gives day by day — TIME.
Gordon Musick