“If God is for us, who can
be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
“Time flies!” “Tempus fugit!” “Idle hands are
the devil’s workshop.” I can almost guarantee you heard bromides
like those as a child. Possibly you still use those sayings yourself.
Well, I submit its time we think about them again. And here’s another
one, “Time’s a-wasting.”
There is so much to be accomplished and maybe
there’s not a lot of time left to get it all done. Indeed, time is
wasting. Now don’t misunderstand me. I want to be very clear. I’m not
suggesting that you all need to go out and accomplish some huge,
earth-shattering project. Stay calm. Relax. We’re not talking about
building another Golden Gate Bridge, in San Francisco, California, or
starting a computer company (or even understanding computers), or
composing a great symphony, or planting a great new church, or
translating the Bible into some strange foreign language. I’m talking
about things we all can do. Things we all SHOULD do – and should do
today. And time’s a-wasting.
Well, what is it I’m talking about? Here are
some ideas. Right now, today – make a new friend, visit someone who is
sick (that may be as simple as just walking down the hall), write a
letter to an old friend or call them on the phone, or just do something
nice for someone – for no reason at all. Maybe best of all, pray for
someone. But whatever you choose to do, don’t hesitate – time’s a
wasting!
The things I listed are actually things we
should be doing all the time. If they happen to fall into your regular
itinerary – wonderful! But if not – you need to get busy right now.
I’m sure that some people will say they don’t
have the ability, or the strength, or the opportunity to do something.
That excuse reminds me of two men who took a walk together one day in
the forest. One of the men was big and strong and confident he could do
just about anything. The other guy was small and physically weak and low
on self-esteem. The little man said, “If only I was as big and strong as
you, I could do anything I wanted to do. I might even go into these
woods and find me a big old bear and tear him limb from limb.” His big
friend smiled down at him and said, “You know, there are a lot of little
bears in the woods, too.” All of us can be used by God if we’re just
willing to try.
I don’t think God will accept the excuse – “I couldn’t do anything. I wasn’t big enough.” No matter
how “small” we are – no matter how much we think our talents limit us –
God will provide the ability for us to do something for someone else –
which is the same thing as doing it for God.
Remember the parable of the widow’s mites? Let
me read it again, “…Jesus saw the rich putting
their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in
two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you
the truth,’ He said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these
people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty
put in all she had to live on’”
(Luke 21:1-4). Jesus didn’t judge the amount of the widow’s gift – He
was concerned about what was in her heart. She gave all she had.
Likewise, God doesn’t care if you build a Golden Gate Bridge or a great
cathedral or just give a loving smile to your neighbor – as long as you
do the best you can. None of us are too small to do “big” things for
God. But we’ll only get them done if we get started – "time’s a-wasting!"
King David was small, but he was able to do big
things. Remember the story of when David killed the giant Goliath?
Before the fight, King Saul tried to prepare David for the battle. Let’s
read the account from 1st Samuel, “Then Saul
dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a
bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic
and tried walking around because he was not used to them. ‘I cannot go
in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘ because I am not used to them.’ So he took
them off” (1 Samuel 17:38-39). Armed only with a sling and five
smooth stones, David went out and slew the Philistine, Goliath. Maybe he
wasn’t unprotected. I think he was fully covered by armor, “…the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). We may feel
small and defenseless sometimes, but God will also clothe us in “…the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you
may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to
stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your
waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your
feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace. In
addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And
pray in the Spirit on all occasions…” (Ephesians 6:13-18).
Remember, “If God is for us, who can be against
us?” (Romans 8:31).
So, I think it’s obvious that it doesn’t matter
how “small” we think we are – short on talent or special abilities. God
will arm us to do His will. And God will supply a task for us to do.
Have you ever known when God had something for you to do – show a
kindness, give a gift, console and pray with someone who is hurting –
but instead of doing it you said, “I can’t do that!” You’re not unique
in that reaction. Many of those that we consider the heroes of the faith
had no obvious talents. They lacked confidence in their own ability to
do what God wanted. But what they did have was the backing of God. Moses
had only the simple staff of a shepherd – but he parted the Red Sea and
brought forth water from the rocks. We have God’s backing also.
Someone once said, “Very
good wheat grows in little fields. Little pigeons can carry great
messages. Even a little dog can bark at a thief and wake up his master
and save the house.” Seth Wilson, a great man of God, said, “It doesn’t take such a great man to be a Christian; it just
takes all there is of him.” We can do what God wants us to do
with the talents that He has given us, no matter how small we may think
they are. But waiting for the right time to do something is the biggest
problem. Many of us have spent too much of our lives waiting for
something. We can probably relate to this little verse I’m going to
read. More than we like to admit, for one reason or another, we have
probably ourselves waited for some of these things:
Stop waiting …until your car or home is paid
for … until you get a new car or home … until you go back to school …
until you finish school … until you lose 10 pounds … until you gain 10
pounds … until you get married … until you get a divorce … until you
have kids … until the kids leave the house … until you retire … until
summer … until spring … until winter … until fall … until you die.
Someone might say, well, I’ll just wait to visit
that sick person until they get better. They might not. I’ll just wait
to smile and be friendly until they smile at me first. They might not.
I’ll just wait to call until they call me. They might not. I’ll just
wait to pray until God shows me a sign. He might not. Don’t wait – "time’s a wasting."
I’m sure most if not all of you have heard of Ty
Cobb, the great baseball player of yesteryear. He was born well before
the turn of the last century and he died in 1961 at age 74. His full
name was Tyrus Raymond Cobb and he was nicknamed the “Georgia Peach.” Ty Cobb had a tremendous lifetime
batting average, he played in over 3,000 major league games and hit .420
in 1911. But he was possibly best known for his mean, rough, some
thought it was even dirty, style of play. Cobb entered Atlanta’s Emory
University Hospital two months before his death and was visited by a
local pastor. As most of us do, in his later years Cobb had mellowed.
After a couple of visits by the minister, Cobb placed his trust in
Christ. Two days before his death he confided, “I
feel the strong arms of God underneath me.” And he added, “Tell folks they should not wait as I did.” Time was
wasting for Ty Cobb. He waited almost too long. If you need to place
your trust in Jesus and accept him as Lord and Savior – time’s
a-wasting. If you are a Christian, but need to be more active doing His
will – serving others in little ways – do it now – "time’s a-wasting."
This message is from "Sermons
for Seniors," by George Boose. Used with permission of the
author. Audio by Ron Beckham, Pastor, Friday Study Ministries -
www.FridayStudy.org
Father, help us to understand that all we
have, all we are is from You. We give ourselves to You, acknowledging
that our lives are Yours. Help us to do what is to be done. In Jesus
Name. Amen.
