Many of us waste so much of our time. Sometimes it would be great if we could live life in reverse. What I mean is to be able to see life from the wisdom of years and experience. To be able to know the consequences of wrong choices (sin) and to choose differently as a result. Time, unfortunately, is not something that can be bought or gained. Many famous people have spent their lives searching for a way to buy time in one way or another (examples: fountain of youth, time travel, ways to bend the time-space continuum). The Bible often speaks to the importance of time.
I wrote recently in one of my blogs about a friend whose wife told him that what he was really asking for was a "do over." Unfortunately, life does not come with a rewind or reset button. Yesterday is history and so it shall remain. Today is all we have. One thing is sure. I have one less day today than I did yesterday. As has often been said, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is all we have." How do we make the most of this MOMENT in time (our today)?
I think we can find guidance in God's Word from someone who probably spent a great amount of time wishing he had many "do overs." That someone is found in the Book of Judges in God's Word and his name is Samson.
Samson was given many gifts, not the least of which was his great strength. He was a mighty warrior. We are told of his exploits which even included killing a lion with his bare hands. He was a Nazerite (consecrated or separated) which during that time meant that his life was dedicated to God and he was to live his life accordingly. One of the things that was required of him was that he was "never to get a haircut". Herein lies one of life's great lessons:
"If you hang around the barbershop, you will eventually end up getting a haircut."
So it was with Samson. If you are disobedient long enough, your sin will find you out. As a result you, and usually others, will suffer because of it. I will not go into great detail about the story of Samson and Delilah other than to say that he lost many things, including his great strength. He spent many years in the prisons of the Philistines. He was blind and probably spent many hours thinking about all the things that "could and should" have been. He could have accomplished so much with his life.
I have met very few people in my life who have few regrets. Most I know would change a thing or two (usually more) if they could. But I have good news. God is a God of redemption. This word literally means, "to buy back." It means that God is timeless and He is always the God of the moment (the "I AM" [notice present tense]). As long as we are in this world, our purpose plan (our moment) is still possible. When Samson stopped looking at what could have been and turned to God and asked that He (God) be glorified with what remained of his life, his moment arrived. He killed more Philistines in his death than he did the whole of his life while he was operating in his gifts!
I know.....He died. Remember life is a fleeting, passing journey. At its longest, it is still very brief. I believe that those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ have a barometer that wants their journey to mean something regardless of how long or short that journey may be. We want to leave a legacy of being able to fulfill God's purpose for our lives which often extends beyond decisions we make along the way whether good or bad (see Romans 8:28). It is "the final curtain" that makes the difference. Paul, at the conclusion of his life stated, "I have finished the course, I have kept the faith....". The moment is NOW. The good news is that if we are still here on this earth, our moment still awaits us. Each new MOMENT ushers in the next. It is true that the best is yet to come!
Let each of us make the most of our "Moment" so that our impact will remain on those who ours lives touch and those who follow after us. We have an eternity to celebrate those combined moments as the people of God with a great cloud of witnesses. Jesus makes each MOMENT possible. Even the ones beyond this present world. To God be the Glory!
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