The Twilights Last Gleaming

Joel 3:14  “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision:  for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” 

John 9:4  “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the nigh cometh, when no man can work.”

Oftentimes in the summer, we tend to be constantly busy, tending to all of the things that need tended to and as a result the callender almost seems to jump from May right into September.  One thing that takes a chunk of time on the weekends is mowing the lawn.  Sometimes, in an attempt to finish it without having to mow the next day, I’ll be racing against the sun.  Once dusk sets in, it’s pointless to continue and suddenly, the consequences of the lengthy breaks taken during the day are manifest.  Time marches on, regardless of how we utilize it, and when it runs out, it runs out. 

In the afternoons, I find likewise, myself running around with an urgency that gradually increases up until 2:30pm when I have to leave for work.  The closer that it gets to 2:30pm, the greater the rush in an attempt to acomplish all that needs to be accomplished so that when I return home, my wife doesn’t have to ask “what did you do all day?”  This will no longer be a problem for a time as I go to third shift starting tonight.  I’ll have to adjust my blogging time along with sleep, but it should work out for the better.  I’ll be able to see the kids more and will also be able to take care of things around here without rushing around.   Still there’s no such thing as “turning back the hands of time.” 

Never has it been more important to redeem the time that remains.  Such has always been the case as none of us have a promise that we’ll be in this world tomorrow morning.  Today, however, this is compounded by the approach of the end of the age.  A time that Jesus told us would see tribulation unlike any other time in history.  This isn’t a pleasant thought; to think that the days ahead will even rival the most horriffic times in history, let alone surpass them.  Yet this is a scriptural accuracy that cannot be denied and as such there is an increased urgency of doing all that we can to reach the lost while there’s time.  I feel inadequate in discussing this as I’ve squandered away more time than I care to think about.  Nonetheless, it’s imperative that we make the most of the time that remains.  (I’m talking to myself also)

One thing to remember.  While the “worst of times” lie ahead, they are followed by “the best of times” when the Lord Jesus returns in like fashion as he left and establishes his kingdom upon the earth.  The knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.  (Habakkuk 2:14)  So while talk of the end times is troubling to some, it’s really a time to “look up” because our redemption is close at hand.  We need to keep our hearts and eyes completely upon the Lord Jesus who has promised to be with us always.  No matter what we face in this present realm Jesus will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be with us.  His peace is beyond our understanding and his grace is sufficient for any situation. 

II Timothy 3:1-5  “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, proud, blasphemers, disobediant to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false acusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God;  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

When talking to people, some of them seem to realize that these are peculiar times.  Some even seem to acknowledge it more than those professing to be saints.  Yet for the most part, folks are going about their daily agenda as though things are going to continue on indefinately.  Of the above passage, verse five is the most troubling.

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

Folks going through the motions while souls are slipping into eternity every day.  Folks who profess to believe the gospel and yet deny the life changing power of the gospel.  Not grasping the seriousness of the hour as they go about their agenda.  Yesterday, I added the page entitled “Heaven and hell Links.”  It contains testimonies from people who have been given a glimpse of the eternal realm.  We really need to grasp the temporal nature of this world and the ramifications of being ovecharged by it.  The following verse is quoted often, but it really sums up the situation.

II Corinthians 4:18  “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the thngs which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 

I pray that we would have our hearts firmly established on the eternal.  That we would love the Lord Jesus wholeheartedly and love our neighbor as ourselves.  (Mark 12:29-31)If we do this in all sincerety and love not this present world, we’ll strive to always be about our Fathers business.  We’ll strive to redeem the time and seek to please the Lord in all that we do.  This has been on my heart much lately; to arrive at a place in the Lord that we truly are ready to follow him wherever he wants us to be.  In other words, it he should tell us to “sell all that we have, travel to Istanbul, and when we get there, he’ll instruct us further”, we’ll do it.  I pray that we all would arrive a such a place in the Lord. 

I need to close this up for now, although it may be expanded later.  To grasp the urgency of the hour is paramount.  To not be consumed by the spirit of this age and caught up in the temporal elements of the world.  To work while there’s still time as time can come to an end with no warning.  Each time I hear of a fatal automobile accident the same thing comes to mind.  The folks who were in the vehicle we’re on the road because they planned on going somewhere; a somewhere that resided just beyond their season in the valley of decision.  Believe me, I’m pointing a big finger at myself throughout this post as I need to hear everything that’s in it.  (It’s kind of a “note to self”)  I’ll close out with a couple of familiar passages.

Ephesians 5:15-17  “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but knowing what the will of the Lord is.”

II Peter 3:9-11   “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.”