^Three narrow windows hanging out in time^
A few thoughts on this Christmas morning as the turkey cooks ever so slowly in the oven and with it, those unmistakable smells of deliciousness.
The title I’ve chosen sounds like a great title for a new novel, doesn’t it?🤔 Well, perhaps some day. A more pressing subject is presently on my mind, for right now we are in the present, but only for a moment. No, I won’t get all paradoxical on you but instead remind you of that which you already know. The hands of time, a handy metaphor, wait for no one. They cannot be stopped, altered, or manipulated. Our Lord created time and has placed us within its context at this particular moment. He remains unbound by time for the very reason that He created it.
We are blessed to enjoy this particular moment in time, don’t you agree? I mean realistically have you ever considered what it would had been like to live back in the 1800s? Maybe not so bad. How about during the Dark Ages? No thank you. Or how about during the first century? To be a Jew living in Jerusalem during the life of Jesus? If only! How about to have been Adam, the one who walked in the Garden with our Lord. How would we have dealt with temptation? We’d have blown it as well just like Adam. I can’t wait to ask our Lord why was I born in this era, and why here in the USA? Why did He bless all of us so much? For have you considered that the poorest among us are wealthy in the eyes of many overseas. I don’t do well with the idea of randomness so I have to believe that we were placed here in this moment and in this place for a reason. Isn’t it sad that many of us wander through life never discovering that reason. Perhaps the trappings and appeal of this world obscure the desire to discover a higher purpose.
In His mercy, the Lord has blessed us with 70 or 80 years (if we’re fortunate) to enjoy on this beautiful blue planet we call Earth. Since with age usually comes wisdom, some of may wish to have lived the fictional Simon Birch phenominum, living life in reverse which could have proved quite beneficial. But that’s not what the Lord intended for us. I’m nearly 3/4 of the way there chronologically/ statistically anyway and I feel like I’ve been living forever, lol. Imagine how long the real forever will feel. Yet this really isn’t home either, is it? For those who know Christ as Savior, it’s merely a moment in time which will soon pass, as eternity greets us with reliable certainty.
We’re all familiar with the axiom “don’t put off ‘til tomorrow what can be done today”, yet there seem to be a thousand things competing for our attention within our present information overload days. Sit down with an “seasoned” elderly person and have them recall their youth and you’ll quickly understand. The way things used to be are often better than the way they are right now.
Moments come and go like a gentle breeze at times and like a hurricane in others. Matthew chapter six says it perfectly: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat [,drink, and wear]?’ … for your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This is the best possible use of your time. Even so, I pray your eyes are presently fixed on Jesus and that you allow Him to guide the steps you take every second of every day.
Someone very special and unique has a birthday today:
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Thank you Lord Jesus for the brief time you’ve given us in the temporal. We can’t wait to spend forever with you in your eternal kingdom. It will be like Christmas every day.
Jim
Amen. I like the idea of spending "forever" with Jesus on the New Earth He is preparing for His Bride.