It’s About Time

March 11, 2007 by PastorMark.

#271, It’s About Time, Sunday 03-11-2007

Text: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Theme: We need a new appreciation toward God’s gift of time.

Introduction

1. The apostle Paul wrote a last letter.
   1. He knew he was about to die.
   2. He wanted to leave something for timothy and us.

Text: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 “The time has come for my departure” (v6)

What does the Bible reveal about time? What should our outlook be toward time?

“Time is God’s gift to us, what we do with time is our own gift back to God.”

Questions about time:

1. How are we to understand time from God’s Word?
   1. Time is part of God’s creation.
   2. God purposely provided variation, change, cycles; He didn’t leave the earth static.
   3. He made day and night. (Ecclesiastes 1:5)
   4. He established the week (7 days).
   5. He established the cycle of the moon (by placing the moon where it is).
   6. He made the years.
   7. God is above time
   8. He is eternal.
   9. He made time and one day all will revert back to “eternal time.”
   10. As physical beings we move through time.
   11. God helps us make sense of time.
   12. He gave us the ability to consider past, present and future.
2. How should we think about the past?
   1. The past offers us opportunity to gain wisdom.
   2. God’s story can impact our story.
   3. We see God’s faithfulness and how others were blessed.
   4. We see God’s warnings and how others failed.
   5. “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us …” 1 Corinthians 10:11
   6. Our own past can help us learn and grow.
   7. We can learn from our failures (self awareness of weaknesses)
   8. We can learn from our past blessings.
   9. example: at the end of his life, Paul rejoiced in god’s faithfulness as he said “I have fought the good fight.”
   10. The consideration of our past is to help us now.
   11. We are not to dwell in the past. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Philippians 3:13
3. How should we think about the future?
   1. The future will have times of testing.
   2. “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” 2 Timothy 3:1
   3. The testing is only temporary.
   4. The future is filled with great glory and victory.
   5. “There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day …” 2 Timothy 4:8
4. How should we think about right now?
   1. The present is given for us to be right with God.
   2. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord” Isaiah 1:18
   3. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts …” Hebrews 3:15
   4. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day f salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
   5. The present is for us to pursue right relationships with others.
   6. They say time heals. There is good time and bad time:
   7. Good time is when we obey the Word … forgive, go to the person.
   8. Bad time is when we remain bitter, angry.
   9. The present is for us to invest in life.
   10. “making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16

Conclusion:

At most funerals I remind the people of our privilege to still walk in the world. Lord, renew my appreciation of today.

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