OceanSide church of Christ

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ONE DAY OF 2022 HAS ALREADY PASSED

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The church at OceanSide has a new goal for 2022:  “Seeking and Serving the Needy in 2022.”

 

B.    We have 365 days to accomplish this mission.

 

C.    However, one day of 2022 has already passed.  Let’s use those words as the title of this Bible class:  “One Day of 2022 Has Already Passed.”

 

D.   What does this mean to us?

 

I.             WE MUST BE AWARE THAT TIME IS RAPIDLY PASSING

 

A.    Life begins.  Life ends.  It seems as though the time between these two points passes by with record speed.  The line between birth and death is called “the dash.” 

1.     Sometimes we are unaware of how quickly the time is passing (i.e., when we are sick or when we are alone)

2.    At other times, we are well aware of how quickly time is flying (i.e., when we are off work or when we watch our children or grandchildren grow up).

 

B.    Those who are able to harness time are the ones who can use it the wisest.

Those who are able to squeeze every second out of a minute are the ones who are successful.

 

C.    Paul exhorts us to redeem the time in Ephesians 5:16.

 

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

1.     We must do all we can do to “buy it up.”

2.    To do this, we must stay focused.  We must stay conscious.  We cannot get distracted.  If we do, several minutes, even hours, have passed us by.

 

D.   NOTE:  Most people reach the end of life and ask this question:  “Where did the time go?”

 

II.           WE CANNOT GET YESTERDAY BACK

 

A.    Once time is gone, it is gone forever.

 

B.    There is nowhere to go to purchase an additional hour of time for our lives.

1.     Additional time for our life cannot be created.

2.    No amount of money can purchase you an additional five minutes of life.

 

C.    We can wish and long for yesterday, but it will never return.

We can think about what we wish we would have done, but we will never do it.

We can seek forgiveness for wasted time, but the time will always be spent.

 

 

D.   All we have of our yesterdays are memories: 

1.     Good memories

2.    Bad memories

3.    Thankful memories

4.    Memories of regret (i.e., I could have accomplished more)

 

E.    Moses exhorts us with these words:  “So teach us to number out days, what we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps. 90:10).

 

III.         ONE DAY LESS TO ACHIEVE

 

A.    One day is just 24 hours.  On the surface, it seems like so little time.  We think we will just brush it off and make up for it later.

1.     We never “make up” for lost time. 

2.    We forfeit something to accomplish what would have been done if we have used our previous time wisely.

a.    A day of rest

b.    A day with family

c.     A day of accomplishing another goal

d.    A day of learning

e.    A day of fun-filled activities

 

B.    In reality, it is one day lost to waste instead of achievement. 

1.     We could ask ourselves:  “What could I have achieved today, if I had not allowed the time simply to pass me by?”

2.    Sebastian Gorka says that he lives by this rule:  “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”  In other words, if it is possible to get something done today, do it!

 

C.    Again, it seems like such a little amount of time.  Days, however, turn to weeks.  Weeks turn into months.  And, months turn into years.

 

D.   Some unique uses of our time in the United States:

1.     8 hours and 48 minutes for sleep

2.    2-1/2 hours for media (TV and radio)  (NOTE:  Some spend up to 5 hours on their cell phones per day.  The average younger person checks their phone at least 80 times a day).

3.    63 minutes eating

4.    57 minutes personal care

5.    NOTE:  Time spent in one area of life is time that cannot be given to another area of life.

 

E.    Yes, when we use a day to achieve little, we often think we have tomorrow.  Listen to the words of wise men found in the Scripture

1.     Proverbs 27:1.

 

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

 

2.    Matthew 6:34

 

Take therefore no thought for the morrow:  for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

3.    James 4:14

 

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

IV.         THE PASSING OF ONE DAY IS ONE DAY CLOSER TO THE END OF LIFE

 

A.    The end of life can come in one of two ways.

1.     Death

2.    The Second Coming of Jesus

 

B.    Let’s assume that we will live to be 100 years old.

1.     We will use a ruler as the length of our life.

a.    Every ten years is represented by an inch.

 

0……….10………20………30………40……….50………60……….70……….80……….90……….100

 

b.    Each inch is divided into tenths.  Thus, each year we live we cut off one of those tenths.

 

0..…….10………20………30………40……….50………60……….70……….80……….90……….100

 

c.     At first, it seems as though we still have a lot of ruler left.

 

.….10………20………30………40……….50………60……….70……….80……….90……….100

10………20………30………40……….50………60……….70……….80……….90……….100

20………30………40……….50………60……….70……….80……….90……….100

 

d.    After 50 years, half is gone.

 

50………60……….70……….80……….90……….100

 

e.    After 75 years, three fourths is gone.

 

.….80……….90……….100

 

f.     We will eventually reach that last tenth of an inch.  Note: each cut brought us one year closer to the end.

 

.100

 

2.    We are not guaranteed 100 years to live. 

a.    Some live 10 years.  Some live to be 19.  Others may make it to 24.  Some may live into their 50s or 70s.  A few will climb into the 90s. 

b.    We may be at that final cut today. 

c.     Remember the rich farmer (Luke 12:16-21, esp. v. 20)

 

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:  then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided.

 

C.    In other words, we really only have the promise of today to get our goals accomplished.  Tomorrow may not be ours to labor and toil toward our desired end (See John 9:4).

 

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day:  the night cometh when no man can work.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Here we are at the beginning of a New Year, 2022. 

 

B.    One day of the 365 days of this year has passed.  Soon this day will be gone as well.

 

C.    My friends, how hard will we work to fulfill our theme for 2022:  “Seeking and Serving the Needy in 2022”?

 

D.   It will not be long before we will be sitting at the beginning of 2023.  How will we reflect back upon the years 2022 as a congregation?  Brethren, let’s seek and serve as many of the needy as we can in this New Year.