HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY
The facts are that the supply of time is truly a daily miracle.
No one can rob you of it; no one receives either more or less time than you receive. (This is true equality: talk about an ideal democracy!)
In the realm of time there is no aristocracy of wealth, and no aristocracy of intellect. Genius is never rewarded by even a single minute or hour a day. Yes! you have as much time as everyone else!
Many say that they never had a “lucky break” or, ’’that they were too honest to be successful in the world!” (I am afraid most of this is sheer bunk!) We all have twenty-four hours a day. Those who make full use of those twenty-four hours will do very well.
Those who waste those hours (or fail to invest them wisely) will do poorly. Many who waste time blame their failures on luck, the political system, governments, or the bad weather, but seldom will they ever blame themselves and their gross mismanagement of time.
Moses wrote, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12).
Have you ever numbered your days? If you would like to know how many days there are in 70 years (an average life time), multiply 70 times 365. You will be amazed to find that there are 25,550 days in 70 years. Add 17 days extra (for the leap years) and you will have simply 25,567 days!
Furthermore, every morning of each new day a credit balance of 86,400 seconds is credited to my account as if a great mysterious donor credits into my bank account $86,400 dollars!
But if I also knew that every night, cancelled and ruled out in that account as ’’neglected loss!’ whatever of this daily credited amount has been left unused from failure to invest wisely during that day, what would I do?
Of course I would draw out every cent and wisely invest each second. All failure and loss to use the gifted daily deposit of time is therefore all mine.
But in spite of the brevity of life, you have enough time to do what you really desire to do-
You have time to sleep. An average adult sleeps 8 hours out of 24. Just think! People sleep away one-third of their lives! (That means, if you live to 60 you will have slept away approximately 20 years as did the fictitious Rip Van Winkle!)
You have time to eat. The average person spends on average at least one hour daily at the food table.
You have time to work – approximately 8 hours a day. Someone has wisely said, “The best way to kill time is to work it to death.”
But most importantly:
You have time currently to be saved from GOD’s just eternal punishment we deserve for all unbelief and sin.
“NOW is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
You have TODAY.
(Remember, “There is no such thing as tomorrow. When tomorrow comes, we call it today!’）
”Today, if ye will hear His (GOD’s) voice, harden not your heart, (Hebrews 3:7-8).
Today, in time review GOD’s grace in Jesus Christ Who paid full price to redeem you and be your substitute on the cross of Calvary.
Satan wants you to live a wretched life of Sinful Seconds, Miserable Minutes, and Harmful Hours.
Christ wants you to live a victorious life of Sacred Seconds, Meditative Minutes, and Holy Hours. Jesus Christ not only desires you have these blessed moments in time, but He has made a way for you to know and enjoy now and eternity forever.
Christ representatively took your place on Calvary’s cross. He died the Just for the unjust to bring us to GOD.
Here is Christ’s plan: “If any man be in Christ, He is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Today, right now believe Him and His Word.
Five Minutes
It was the custom of Samuel Hubbard to go with other Bible teachers to instruct classes for inmates in a Boston prison.
Near the end of a class one day, the chairman said, “we have five minutes to spare. Mr. Hubbard, would you like to make a few remarks?”
Mr. Hubbard arose in a calm, dignified manner, and looking straight at the prison inmates said:
“I am told that we have five minutes to spare. Much may be done in five minutes.
In five minutes, Judas betrayed his master, and went to his own place.
In five minutes, the thief on the cross repented, and went with the Saviour to Paradise.
No doubt many of you seated before me did in five minutes that act which brought you to this place.
“In five minutes, you may repent, and go to Paradise – or you will imitate Judas, and go to the place of eternal punishment where he is. My five minutes have expired.’’
He thanked all for listening to him during these five spare minutes, he then sat down, bowed his head and prayed for all present.
The old hymn says:
Be in Time!
Life at best is very brief like the falling of a leaf
Like the binding of a sheaf, Be in Time!
Fleeting days are telling fast that the die will soon be cast.
And the fatal line be passed, Be in Time!
Be in time! Be in time!
While the voice of Jesus calls you,
Be in time! If in sin you longer wait,
You may find no open gate,
And your cry be just too late:
Be in time!
“The time is short” 1 Corinthians 7:29 – Are you ready ?
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” Hebrews 2:3
Written: John A. Short
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