Tag: depression and addictions

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I have been featuring excerpts from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This book is on sale right on this site. Easter is getting close and this book is perfect for those you know who may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, Hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects. Click on the “Bookstore,” tab above to check it out.

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Today’s excerpt is about what we must do to pass the tests that God may have for us some day.

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Chapter 50

 

Time Will Pass; Will You?

 

Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal.”

Genesis 6:3

 

One day during my teacher years, I was sitting at my desk correcting papers when I looked up and saw one of my students staring at the clock. It was getting close to recess, and he was anxiously waiting to be able to go out and play. After recess, and near the end of the day, I decided to watch the students while I was at my computer. (I had the monitor positioned so I could see the reflection of what—or who—was behind me. Sneaky, huh?)

It was happening again. Several students were watching the clock, instead of doing their schoolwork.

Before the students came in the next morning, I had posted a sign below the clock that read, “Time will pass; will you?” I couldn’t wait until the kids came in. They had been there about five minutes when one of the students spotted the sign. She started laughing as she pointed to the clock. The others looked up, and everyone started laughing.

Then the laughing faded and looks of concern started showing up on their faces. They had that look that said, “That is a funny saying, but what does it mean?”

I went to the front of the classroom to explain what I had observed. They didn’t laugh this time, and from then on you could see students taking a darted look at the clock and then dive back into their studies. They didn’t want me to catch them looking at the clock.

I was able to take the sign down after a couple of weeks, and never had a problem after that. Its message had become embedded in their minds.

When I was a young father, I was very busy, trying to provide for my family. I was going to college and working full time at a grocery store. I didn’t have time for anything else.

This schedule led to a college degree for me and a career in teaching. But it cost me my marriage and created a separated home for my children. It was my own fault. My first wife worked very hard while I was in school and is a good mother.

I decided I wanted to find out what the world was like since I never had time to do it while going to school for ten years. I walked away from a good family situation in my divorce. I had my two sons with me, but my daughter stayed with her mother.

That is when I thought about time passing by me. I walked that wide path of sin, and really thought I was enjoying my newfound freedom. I left my sons at home, and went out “playing.” They had to learn to be independent.

I didn’t see much of my daughter either, and one day when I did, I was in shock. I thought, Is that my daughter? She sounds older. She looks older, even taller, and much prettier. I must have missed something. What had happened, of course, is that she had become a young lady. Overnight, it seemed that she had gone from my little princess to a young woman.

Just yesterday, I was changing her diapers, I thought, and now she is driving a car. She was going to college, and I didn’t even have time to watch her grow. I was running out of chances to show her my love. Time was passing by quickly, and I was failing.

That is what happens when you decide to wait on giving your life to God. Time passes very quickly, and before you know it, you have gone through life without the love of God in your life.

Your time to pass on will come soon enough. You will take the final test, but what test will you pass? The test of sin or the test of righteousness? The final grade will be handed out to you at the end of your term here on earth. It is a pass/fail test.

We are like my children when they were little. Some things are hard to comprehend. There is no way our minds can comprehend, the love of God. We may think ourselves unworthy of such an awesome God. Although we cannot understand His love, we cannot stop Him from loving us.

We just can’t grasp the thought that God would come down to earth through a womb, wrap Himself in human flesh, and be crucified just for us. Just for you.

Let me ask you something: Upon learning that God would rather die for you—and He did—than be without you, how do you respond? How can you justify His doing this for you?

You can’t come up with a good answer, can you? I can’t either. You can’t justify one person dying for another.

The only answer is that there is more love in God than we can ever imagine.

That brings us down to the fact that there is no one on earth who can love us more than God does. Our parents can’t. Our siblings can’t. Our best friends can’t. Our spouse can’t.

The bottom line is that God loves us more than anything else He has created. The Bible doesn’t say He might love us. It doesn’t say He is thinking about loving us. It doesn’t say He did love us, but that our sins have turned Him away from us.

God has an unconditional love that is forever.

Time is passing; will you pass on to heaven? That is the final test. You can pass this test easily. Just confess your sins and let Jesus into your heart. No true or false questions. Just yes or no. If you say yes, you have passed the test with a 100% score, and the gates are opened wide for you.

My daughter has grown up from that little princess I told you about. She graduated from college with a teaching degree, married, and has two lovely little girls. We spend time together as often as possible. I am in the autumn of my life, but I know that I am loved by her, and she knows how much I love her. I may have let time pass, but there is still time left.

There is still time left for you too. Don’t let any more time pass. Turn your life over to God. He will look at you, and say, “You have grown up, and I am proud of what you have become. You have become My child, and I will love you forever.”

Just like I will love my children forever.

 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13–14

 

Further Adventures

Does it seem like you just graduated from college, but here you are just a few years from retirement? Did the little boy you were holding in your arms yesterday suddenly become a husband with three children—your grandchildren?

There are some things you might avoid, but there are some things you can’t. Time will keep ticking no matter how much you try to slow it down. I know this may sound rather overbearing, but treat each day as if it is your last. What would you do if you knew tomorrow was your last day? Sit down and write down all those things and make it your “bucket list”—things you want to do before you “kick the bucket.” Start doing them and check them off your list as you do.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how quickly the days go by as you get older?