The Hour is Closer Than We Expect

With this New Year off and running the question becomes, “What will we do with it?” Will we make better use of our time this year as opposed to last year? Will 2018 be a year of joy or regret, a year of great expectation or unimaginable dread?

To make the most out of the coming year, the Apostle Paul gives us some really good advise. “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:15-18)

The Apostle Paul begins by telling us to be careful, because the days ahead are filled with all sorts of bad stuff.

King David was more succinct saying, “Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.” (Psalm 39:4)

David was asking for wisdom because our days on earth are so limited.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientist from the University of Chicago has what is known as “The Doomsday Clock.” It is a symbolic clock showing how close we are to global disaster. The most recent setting, January 26, 2017, is 2 ½ minutes to midnight, the closest it has ever been since 1953.

A little bit more to the morbid, the Internet has “The Death Clock.” Once you enter in some statistics it tells you when you will die, and then starts ticking off the seconds.

The only problem with all of these is that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So how are we to live our lives?

To answer that question, the Apostle Paul tells us three things.
1) Make the most of every opportunity.
2) Understand the Lord’s will for your life.
3) Be filled with the Holy Spirit.