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Running Out of TimeRunning Out of Time
by Phil Ware
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The clock is ticking. The calendar is winding down. I'm running out of time. I made myself some promises about some important things in my life that I would accomplish by the end of this year. It's going to require me to buckle down, be incredibly disciplined, and live like every day and every decision matter supremely to the final outcome. If I don't, I will not keep these important commitments that I've made to myself. There is no room for procrastination. There is no more margin for weak days, inefficient weeks, or plain ol' laziness. I'm running out of time!

While these issues are personal and spiritual, they also have reminded me that every single statement I made above could be said about my daily Christian life ... at any point in my life. The same is true in your daily Christian life, too.

We're not running out of time, we're running to God.
Unfortunately, many of us have lost our sense of urgency in our Christian lives — especially our urgency about the Lord Jesus' imminent return. With that loss, our days are not filled with as much passion, expectation, intention, and hope as they should be. But don't take my word for it, hear the words of the great apostle Paul as he wrote to Roman Christians who needed to be reminded of the same thing:

For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:11-14 NLT)

For years, the following quotation has been used to motivate people to newer and higher achievements: "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." While this may be true, there is a truer promise for Christians: "Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near."

We're not running out of time, we're running to God and all that he has waiting for us. So let's live with passion, anticipation, and a holy sense of urgency.

 
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      © 2004 Phil Ware. All rights reserved.

      Title: "Running Out of Time"
      Author: Phil Ware
      Publication Date: November 15, 2004

 
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Phil Ware Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click here.

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HOME     topTOP HEARTLIGHT® Magazine is produced by Heartlight, Inc. HEARTLIGHT is a registered service mark of Heartlight, Inc. Copyright © 1996-2007. Heartlight is supported by Westover Hills Church, Southern Hills Church, and loving Christians from around the world. Scripture quotations are taken from the Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. Used by permission. All rights reserved.