2017 – Obstacles and Opportunities!

Beautiful words from Ruth Johnson Caruth’s song sometimes haunt but also help, because they (hopefully) motivate us to take personal inventory of how we are using the time God has alotted us on Planet Earth. In 1904 she wrote: "Swiftly we’re turning life’s daily pages, Swiftly the hours are changing to years; How are we using God’s golden moments? Shall we reap glory, Shall we reap tears" (verse 1 gospel hymn "Into Our Hands")? God invites us to pull off the fast-track of life and "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile" (Mark 6:31). He knows that a reasonable and regular amount of time spent in exercise and recreation strengthens and "re-creates" us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Such periods are not a waste of time. But many people, including many Christians, are guilty of wasting time, or at least spending it in ways that soak up large chunks of time and energy that could and should be used in better ways. I don’t want to irritate you unless you need to be irritated – but how much time do you spend in front of a screen of some kind as compared to time spent in front of Scripture or worship of God and service to other people? Just sayin’. Scripture scrutinizes our management of time and urges us not to misuse it. Ephesians 5:15 directs us to "walk circumspectly [carefully], not as fools but as wise" – and interestingly, the very next verse says, "redeeming the time, because the days are evil." The New International says in verse 16 "making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil." And in Galatians 6:9-10 Christians are directed to "not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to the household of faith." These passages remind us our moments indeed are God’s, and that how we use them in the here and now effects our destiny in the hereafter! Will we reap glory, or will we reap tears?

The 365 days of 2017 will be saturated with opportunities to do good! But caution is in order, for, as Ann Landers once observed, "Opportunities are often disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them" (see Matthew 25:34-46 for proof of that). Consider the story of an ancient king who had a large boulder placed on a roadway. He hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many verbally criticized the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything to get the stone out of the way. At length a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon reaching the boulder, the peasant unshouldered his burden and, after much pushing and straining, managed to move the rock to the side of the road. Picking up his vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king announcing that the gold and special court privileges were a reward for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us still don’t understand – what sometimes seems to us to be an obstacle is in reality an opportunity in disguise. God’s work awaits in 2017. Opportunities abound, but most require work. Honestly, how are you using God’s golden moments? Will you reap glory or will you reap tears?

Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN