But I Don't Have Time
"I don't have time" is the most pronounced excuse that we have given for not doing the Lord's will. We know that we should study the Bible more and involve ourselves in the evangelization of the world. But, we don't have time. We seem to have time for other things but not those things which would make us grow. Hence, we have become an ineffective Church and the rest of humanity goes merrily on it's way oblivious to the fact that it is headed to destruction. Surely the Lord wouldn't pronounce judgement on us would He? But judgement begins in the House of God. I believe in the not too distant future we will experience the great falling away. Mens hearts have already waxed cold to the things of the Spirit of God. And this is happening right now in the Church. It would seem like the Lord is on a course of action that will make us hold onto Him or push Him away. There appears to be no middle ground.
What is it about time that is so damning? God is very patient with us but that patience can and will run out eventually.
Psalms 32:6 (NASB)
[6] Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You *in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
When things really fall apart the unprepared will not have someone that they can cling to - after all, you never took the time to really know Him so why should He respond to your cries of anguish. He is the source of everything and yet we do not take the time to even be thankful for what His bounty has bestowed upon us.
Psalms 145:15 (NASB)
[15] The eyes of all *look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.
There is a time for everything under the sun. We should reach Him while He is near. We should learn to cultivate a close relationship with the one that we would spend eternity with - how can the things of this life compare?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NASB)
CHAPTER 3
A Time for Everything
[3:1] There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every *event under heaven—
[2] A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
[3] A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
[4] A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
[5] A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
[6] A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
[7] A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
[8] A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
We can strive to learn about Him in our own way, but he can not be found that way. We need to acknowledge that He is the source of everything. So we should start by giving thanks to Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 (NASB)
God Set Eternity in the Heart of Man
[11] He has made everything *appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, *yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
[12] I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; [13] moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.
We need to be thankful for and accept His great salvation which has been provided for us. The days are growing short and the end times are upon us. Shall we sleep and not try to come nearer the throne of grace? Or is it that our time has made us asleep?
Romans 13:11-14 (NASB)
[11] Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now *salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. [12] The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. [13] Let us *behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
The days are truly evil and are becoming more so by the hour. We must make the most of the time that we have now to grow closer to Him. It is the most important thing we can do.
Ephesians 5:16 (NASB)
[16] *making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
We must turn from our ways (repent) and turn to the things of God. Not living for ourselves but loving for Him who gives us everything.
1 Peter 4:2-3 (NASB)
[2] so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. [3] For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, *having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and *abominable idolatries.
We need to wake out of our sleep, prepare for battle with evil because it will come. We need to be focused on the Lord's return for judgement and to bring His people home to Himself.
1 Peter 1:13 (NASB)
[13] Therefore, *prepare your minds for action, *keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace *to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Remember, laziness is not the way of a wise man.
Proverbs 19:15 (NASB)
[15] Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle *man will suffer hunger.
Grace and Peace to you all.
What is it about time that is so damning? God is very patient with us but that patience can and will run out eventually.
Psalms 32:6 (NASB)
[6] Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You *in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
When things really fall apart the unprepared will not have someone that they can cling to - after all, you never took the time to really know Him so why should He respond to your cries of anguish. He is the source of everything and yet we do not take the time to even be thankful for what His bounty has bestowed upon us.
Psalms 145:15 (NASB)
[15] The eyes of all *look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.
There is a time for everything under the sun. We should reach Him while He is near. We should learn to cultivate a close relationship with the one that we would spend eternity with - how can the things of this life compare?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NASB)
CHAPTER 3
A Time for Everything
[3:1] There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every *event under heaven—
[2] A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
[3] A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
[4] A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
[5] A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
[6] A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
[7] A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
[8] A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
We can strive to learn about Him in our own way, but he can not be found that way. We need to acknowledge that He is the source of everything. So we should start by giving thanks to Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 (NASB)
God Set Eternity in the Heart of Man
[11] He has made everything *appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, *yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
[12] I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; [13] moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.
We need to be thankful for and accept His great salvation which has been provided for us. The days are growing short and the end times are upon us. Shall we sleep and not try to come nearer the throne of grace? Or is it that our time has made us asleep?
Romans 13:11-14 (NASB)
[11] Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now *salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. [12] The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. [13] Let us *behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
The days are truly evil and are becoming more so by the hour. We must make the most of the time that we have now to grow closer to Him. It is the most important thing we can do.
Ephesians 5:16 (NASB)
[16] *making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
We must turn from our ways (repent) and turn to the things of God. Not living for ourselves but loving for Him who gives us everything.
1 Peter 4:2-3 (NASB)
[2] so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. [3] For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, *having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and *abominable idolatries.
We need to wake out of our sleep, prepare for battle with evil because it will come. We need to be focused on the Lord's return for judgement and to bring His people home to Himself.
1 Peter 1:13 (NASB)
[13] Therefore, *prepare your minds for action, *keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace *to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Remember, laziness is not the way of a wise man.
Proverbs 19:15 (NASB)
[15] Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle *man will suffer hunger.
Grace and Peace to you all.