For as long as I can remember two things have been extremely consistent in my life: time and direction. All of us have probably been late for an important meeting or late getting to work. And I am very sure the majority of us have found ourselves lost, heading down the road that leads us to nowhere or at least heading in the wrong direction. Most men wouldn’t admit to being lost; we would say we just got turned around. But lost is lost and it does happen. We might even ask ourselves how did that happen? Perhaps we were not paying attention to the road signs, maybe we were daydreaming or talking to someone on the phone. But before you know it, you are lost and if you were to be somewhere at a particular time, you’re late.
Over the years, I have made it my mission to be punctual. I do what I can, not to get lost while traveling. And with age and experience I believe I have improved. Part of it is due to technology, the other is, I make sure I stay on the roads and trails I know best. Whether in daylight or darkness I make it to my destination on time.
I’m sure time and direction are important things in your life too. I also believe that the Scriptures are full of illustration as to these inseparable entities. We are told in Genesis 1:14-19 that God said, “Let there be lights…” Note the plural form in verse 14. It goes on to state that these lights were to divide the day from the night and be for signs and seasons, days, and years. These lights would also be rulers, one over the day and the other over the night. We know these lights as the sun (the greater light) and the moon and stars (the lesser light). Over the past 6,000 years (yes, I am a young earther), man has been able to, not only tell time but also find his location and destination by using the sun, moon, and stars. Yet, I find it puzzling that mankind more than ever is directionally challenged, and too late getting to the place they need to be at the most. What do I mean by that?
To help us in my line of thinking, David Guzik writes something very interesting, “Since the beginning, man has used God’s provision of the sun, moon, and stars to mark and measure time and direction.” Did you catch that, “God’s provision.” God has provided everything man needs to get from point A to point B in a timely fashion. Yet man would have you believe that his clock and compass are working just fine, apart from God’s provision.
Hopefully you can see the direction I am going with this. I’m not talking about getting to your next vacation spot in a timely fashion. But I am talking about God’s timeline and the direction He wants His people on.
We know that God’s timeline is running down and the world’s compass is broken. Lost humanity doesn’t want to hear that time is running out for them, nor do they want to hear that the direction they are going is leading them further from truth of who God is, not closer. So, what can we do? I believe the answer is simple but not necessarily easy. We need to be consistent in telling others about who Jesus Christ is and how we flesh Him out in our daily living. How do we do that? Great question! It is one that I ask myself at the beginning of each new year. Let me share with you a few things I try to keep in front of me at the start of a new year as it concerns time and direction.
First, I want to rid myself of clutter. Clutter can be anything from material things to the things that take up too much of my time, and have no eternal value (time and direction). It also could be the things that clutter my mind, that keep me from focusing on God’s kingdom rather than my own.
Second, I have been praying that God would give me a new spiritual goal for the year, as it relates to my Bible study time. I want to do something that is difficult and seriously challenging to me. Hey, if it is easy everybody would be doing it, right? All I can say at this point is, what I am trying to do is taking me out of my comfort zone. But it will challenge me in both the use of my time and direction I want to go.
Third, even though I am “retired,” (I know, whatever that means) I am still keeping track of the use of my time. Every day I have a written agenda. At my age I have to keep track of all my doctor’s appointments, Linda’s appointments, and everything in between. But if someone were to read about my life through my calendar of events, I want them to see something more than just how sick I really am (no comment). I would like them to read a calendar that is full of life for God, full of zeal for the divine. That, they may see each morning I wake up, I wake up full of purpose… God’s purpose.
So, what is on your list that will affect your time and direction for 2024. It is my prayer that the Spirit of God would reveal it to you during this new year.
This is Pastor Pat, From Behind The Pen Chapter Two, wishing you Joy in Jesus!