Time Stealers

Everywhere I look, someone has a cell phone growing out of their ear, figuratively speaking; or fingers and thumbs are busy texting.  Whether standing in a line at the grocery store; driving down a busy thoroughfare; or sitting in the pew during a church service; there are those that find it difficult to wait for a more appropriate, respectful time to chat with family and friends.

Cell phones are a wonderful invention.  Some people believe they are a necessity, with all of the features that phones offer consumers.  Had I invested capital in buying stocks when cell phones first appeared on the market, I am sure I would have no financial worries for the rest of my life or my children’s lives.  I guess some people call this 20/20 hindsight, but I have learned through the years that God is my source and not man.  He supplies my every need.   

I can understand the necessity of making emergency calls or receiving important calls that cannot wait, but it seems that people have nothing better to do with their time other than texting; playing games on their phone; surfing the internet; or talking nonstop; which brings me to my thoughts for today.

It is shocking how things, in general, seize a person’s attention from the things of God, while life is quickly passing by.  The Bible says in (James 4:14) that our lifespan is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Awareness becomes apparent when thinking back to my childhood.  The passing years have been a hop-step-and jump to my now, elderly years.  My life is indeed slipping by like a vapor or cloud in the sky.  It seems that we are born, only to fade into old age overnight.

It is what we do with the time we have on earth that matters most where eternity is concerned.  This short span of time, called ‘life’, is a dressing room experience.  How we live it and the garments we wear determine where our soul will spend eternity—heaven or hell. 

I am glad that I wear the garment of praise; given to me on that day when I gave my heart to the Lord.  I laid the old garments of reckless, disobedient living at the feet of Jesus—January, 1969. 

I believe that when an individual stops to mull over in their mind what they truly want out of life, I am confident that God is often considered in this thought process, because people are intelligent enough to realize that every good and perfect gift comes from above.  The choice whether to serve Him or not is actually the deciding factor as to a peaceful way of life or a life filled with unrest and ongoing questions pertaining to one’s purpose on earth, among other things.   

Try as a person may through their own aptitude and intellectual capabilities to become successful and self-sustaining, they soon realize that it is impossible to attain peace, the missing piece, without God in their life even though they appear to be successful in the eyes of others.  The measure of success becomes trite when peace is lacking.  Temporary satisfaction can avail itself, but quickly fades into discontentment, because God is the only One who gives lasting gratification.

People can attempt to live a successful life according to their own wants and desires, while suppressing the wooing of the Holy Spirit, or they can surrender their heart to the Lord and live an abundant, peaceful life, while rejecting the temptations that Satan throws their way.  The choice is theirs to make.  God is not willing that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance.

This act of obedience and submission to God provides an inner hope that one day they will see Jesus face to face and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Lord."  The end result of a God-filled-life is being with Him in heaven, forevermore.  Without this hope, non-Christians are most miserable even though they may possess all that money can buy. 

The void in their heart is the shape of the Trinity.  Nothing on earth can fill this emptiness except the Father; the Son; and the Holy Spirit.

If Satan can keep us distracted from considering Jesus as being the means to a peaceful and fulfilled life, while keeping our minds busy with new technology and hi-tech breakthroughs, then everything around us becomes vanity and vexation of spirit, especially when one elects to visit internet sites that are not conducive or beneficial to a person’s walk with God.

If a person chooses unwisely to participate in things that are anti-Christ, not only will their life be filled with heartache, they will be void of the hope mentioned above.  The end result of disobedience to God and rejecting His Son Jesus, spells ‘DEATH’, both for the physical and spiritual entity of a nonbeliever.

It is one thing to be distracted by phones, computers, boats, cars, houses, and hobbies, which are not in themselves wrong; it becomes sin when people allow themselves to be led astray to become ensnared and captured by the lust of the flesh, which spells ‘CORRUPTION’.

(Galatians 6:7-8), “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”  vs.8 “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

It is far better to submit ourselves to the Lord and live for Him, which is merely our reasonable service.

(Romans 12:1-2), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  vs.2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”       

Jesus Christ is the only saving grace that gives meaning to life.  Without Him, a person is lost and undone even though they may achieve fame and fortune.  One cannot buy salvation, because it is freely given to whomever denies them self and puts God first in their life; asking to be forgiven of their sins.

It is at this crossroad-of-decision that God gives His Son Jesus to those that present themselves a living sacrifice to Christ.  The more we spend in God’s Word and on our knees seeking His will for our life, the more meaning life provides. 

Don’t forget to take time for God.  Activities and things can end up being time stealers if we are not careful to monitor them.  Meditate on the Lord daily and He will open the windows of heaven and poor out blessings that you cannot contain. 

The next time you get the urge to surf the internet or spend hours sitting in front of the television rather than reading the Bible or a book of encouragement that was written by a Christian author; or chatting aimlessly on the phone; remember the Lord Jesus Christ and the price He paid for your salvation.  He was crucified on a cross for your sins and mine. 

Jesus died; paying the ultimate price for our redemption.  We can enjoy an abundant life through Him when we ask forgiveness of our wrongdoing that God calls sin.  When we invite the Lord into our heart, this simple act of faith is the beginning of a new life that the Bible talks about—being born again.

(2 Corinthians 5:17), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd