Time's a Ticking
Monday, January 8, 2024
“He who hath helped thee hitherto
Will help thee all thy journey through.”
- C.H. Spurgeon
At age 64, actuaries tell me that I can expect to live another 17.63 to 18.65 years… or roughly until the age of 82. That information leaves me with a choice: I can either be bummed that my life is about 78% over or excited that I am that much closer to seeing my Savior face-to-face.
It should be no surprise to those who know me best that I choose to take the latter approach. To me, the realization that I will be in the presence of Jesus in another 20 years (give or take) is both exciting and reassuring. It is like a runner, laboring with each stride he takes, rounding the final turn and seeing the finish line off in the distance.
But that is only half of the story. Yes, I am closer today to getting my glorified body and enjoying a sinless existence in a perfect place called heaven. However, that means that I only have about two decades left to make an eternal impact on this earth. That is why I pray more than ever for my children and grandchildren… and why I preach with a greater sense of urgency… and why I write these weekday devotionals to challenge and encourage my fellow believers. It is also why I launched my faith-based political blog, because I am deeply concerned about our country and the direction it is heading.
The bottom line is that I will have all eternity to look back at what I did right and what I did wrong. All I want to concentrate on – in the here and now – is how to love and serve my family and friends more completely and genuinely, and how to lead more people to a saving knowledge of Jesus. By comparison, most everything else is a waste of time and energy.
Sure, I will still take time to polish my golf game and do some traveling if health and finances allow. And yes, a cross-country trek in an RV and a golf and sightseeing trip to Scotland are still on my bucket list. But if I don’t get to experience those things here on earth, I am sure that my temporary disappointment will disappear the moment I step foot in Glory.
In the meantime, I will keep trusting my lifelong companion Jesus to make the most of what time I have left.
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
