On Time

December 20, 2009 by kingsway
Filed under Discussion

Daniel True

Many times you will notice that I “follow up” previous posts. That is because in the limited space allowed for each article there just isn’t enough time to explore all the “avenues” or details of a particular subject. Such is the case this time around!

In October (14^th), I talked about the length of man’s life (as the Bible describes it). On July 14^th the message was regarding the Rapture of the Church and a warning to not wait until it is too late to turn to God (if you are unsaved).

The Creator “invented” time for man’s use. He doesn’t have the need of time. He is Today & Forever! Time Marches On Those in Heaven (and Hell) are in an “eternal” state – meaning time doesn’t change – it is always today. When He set the sun, earth and moon, etc. into motion, He also created “day and night” — for us here on earth — a 24-hour cycle. And, our very existence is centered around a time-base; the clock and the calendar.

Everything on earth is time-dependent. Machines are anticipated to operate a certain number of hours and then they are expected (if not programmed!) to fail. Computers couldn’t work without an on-board clock for reference. We sleep or rest so many hours and set aside time for our work, school and other activities, and so on.

In the computer analysis section at the Kennedy Space Center, one of my co-workers was responsible for analyzing launch (lift-off) data – in the micro-second range!

While we are here on Earth time is very important. Einstein concluded a theory that as man moves away from Earth (especially away from this Solar (sun) system), the time quantum changes. Well, it didn’t take a scientist to theorize that – just read your Bible (Genesis 1)! (Incidentally, near the end of his life, since he couldn’t answer (my) standing question of “WHY” the laws of nature work as they do, Einstein “theorized” that there must be a God in charge).

With that in mind, you probably need to look at your personal “timing”. Man (mankind – but more than likely, males) seem to have a tendency to “wait until the last minute” to do something (it’s called “PROCRASTINATION”!). How many people have wandered into a church service, as much as 30-minutes late, yet get “fidgety” if the service runs over schedule by two or three minutes?

Since moving to Florida some 27 years ago, it was obvious then that many people here fall into that “casual category” of just not being on time!.It must be the the “retirement mentality” or the warm or balmy climate (balmy used here is “mild & pleasant” not the archaic meaning of “mentally irregular”)!

We always try to begin our meetings and services at the assigned or usual time. At some of our meetings, especially when we had a guest evangelist, we would change the “normal” service to have the “prayer line” at the beginning of the service rather than having praise & worship (music) first. Other times we instructed the ushers to not seat anyone after the start, until a normal break in the service would occur. But, none of those efforts would inspire the congregation to be in place at the next scheduled starting time!

There are several accounts in the Bible that deal with promptness. One is the parable of the 10 virgins and their oil lamps (Matt. 24:1-13), in which the virgins were to meet the bridegroom prior to a wedding. Yet, their lamps were not prepared (trimmed and oiled) for his arrival, and while stepping away trying to get them ready, the bridegroom came and went in to the wedding house and the virgins were locked out.

In the Book of Acts (2: 1-4), there were (120 reported) people gathered on the day of Pentecost. Those who were there were “filled with the Holy Spirit”. Wonder how many were late for the gathering and missed the “infilling”?!

General Patton had the right idea when he instructed his Mess Sergeant to open the doors of the “Mess Hall” at 6:00AM and lock them at 6:15, in an effort to get the troops to breakfast promptly. I wonder if it worked, or did they just voluntarily miss breakfast?

One bit of timing will surely not vary a millisecond – the day & hour that Christ returns to planet Earth to take His seat on the throne and be our “Governor” for an uncontested 1,000 year term. Unfortunately, no one, not even Jesus Himself (Mark 13:32 — Matt. 25:13) knows just when He will be sent back to Earth. But, one thing is sure – you gotta be ready for Him when He comes or you will be “locked out” like those 10 tardy virgins!

You ask how you “get ready” ? – well, I thought you’d never ask! The answer and do-it-yourself instructions are found here. Follow these directions and your “lamps will be trimmed” for that great “Wedding Day”: