Image from livingthelectionary.blogspot.com
I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1Corinthians 7:29-31)
One Sunday morning some years ago, a long time friend came and said very seriously, "I dreamed that I had died and was taken into the pearly gates where St. Peter was talking to folks as he led them into glory. When my turn had arrived, he said he needed to check something in the offices and asked me to follow him. I went in and saw clocks of all shapes and sizes, colors and designs. Cuckoo clocks, small smiley face clocks. The one thing I noticed was that each clock had a name and each clock moved differently from the rest. Some moved very slow if at all, some at a more visible pace. When St. Peter came back from his office, I had to ask, 'What are these clocks all about? I see names and different movements from each.' He smiled and said, 'My child, each clock represents a life still on earth, thus the name. And the movement of the hands of each clock moves each time a person commits a sin. The faster the movement the more sinful the person.' I had to ask another question; 'I see Billy's clock and Mary's clock, but I don't see Pastor Eradio's clock...' St. Peter laughed and said, 'Oh! His? I keep it in the office on my desk as a fan!'"
With the clock as a graphic for today I had to work that ancient joke in. The focus is, for many people, on the clock and the pressures of each day with nary a thought about Jesus. As Paul is writing, he was in the early stages of his ministry when he felt a "hurry up and repent and come to Jesus because Jesus is coming soon!" phase. It was evident in some of his early writings and then he matures and begins to realize the importance of salvation but in a way that encourages people who meanwhile are enduring persecution and suffering and asking, "Where is Jesus? I thought you said He was coming soon?"
The reality is, we don't know the day nor the hour of His return. We don't know the day nor the hour of our departure from this earth either. It could be many years from now (Lord, hear our prayer I hear us praying!) or it could be sooner than that; Paul says, focus on Christ and His return and live a life that says you are focused on the important things of life like sharing Jesus and sharing God's love. He is saying marriage is a blessing, but focusing on it as your only life distracts from the demands of Christ on your life and the life of those around you. Those who have lost loved ones should mourn but not to the point of emotional paralysis. Those who are happy should be happy but not to the point of constant celebrations that are really distractions from the needs of life; whatever it is you are doing, please keep in mind that our focus should be on Christ and His return. Thus Paul's last verse in this passage, "For the present form of this world is passing away."
Make the most of each day by blessing others and sharing the good news of Jesus.
PRAYER: Loving God, bless this dear reader in this day. May our day be a blessing to You and Yours. You know our needs and our names; keep us close and help us bring others closer to You; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share a smile and a word of kindness with someone today for God's sake and yours.
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Updates: Dear one, the cold weather continues in our area of Texas. The roads are still dangerous and the advice being shared is to not travel if you can avoid it. Our church, First Methodist of Gonzales and all its ministries and studies for today are closed. The regular Wednesday Bible studies will return next week, Lord willing. We celebrate some needed steps taken in the healing of the Rev. Michael Dobbs, and we shout out Amen! to the Lord; thank you for your prayers for him. The rest continue in our hearts and prayers as we pray the Lord's blessings on them. Please stay safe and warm.
