Fun or not, time does fly

Christmas is upon us, and many of us are enjoying the holiday hubbub, especially as a release from the COVID restrictions that kept families apart for well over a year.

Others, such as Martha, are so caught up in the mundane holiday preparations, shopping and travel that they’re missing out on the fun (Luke 10:38-42).

We were returning from Albuquerque recently, and it must have been a good day for our grandson because he said he wished time wouldn’t fly when you’re having fun. He preferred that time stood still when you were having fun and it would fly otherwise.

During the about two years since COVID was turned loose on the world, time seemed have come to a standstill for many, with each day seemingly lasting a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). Still, the length of this life is nothing compared to eternity (James 2:14).

This being said, many are having great “fun” in a sinful lifestyle; some of those even “plan” to get right with God sometime before they die, but they’re waiting as long as they can because they feel “safe.”

Those pleasures are short-lived, however, and life may end before they get ready because, as stated in the verse previously cited, our earthly life is very short and can come to an end with little or no notice (Hebrews 11:24-26; Luke 12:15-21; Acts 5:1-11).

God doesn’t usually act so swiftly nowadays to execute judgment like he did with Ananias and Sapphira, but just as our salvation as Christians is nearer than ever before, so is the judgment of non-Christians (Romans 13:11; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Peter 4:17).

Instead of pursuing temporary happiness, Christians are to find joy in all things, even the bad times (1 Thessalonians 5:16; Titus 1:15; James 1:2-5; Romans 12:12). This joy comes from having God’s Holy Spirit indwelling and guiding our lives so we bear his fruit (Galatians 5:22-25).

While I don’t think the fruit of the Spirit is gained and exhibited in any progressive manner, I do wonder if joy isn’t listed second after love because we must receive and exhibit love first. That is, we must recognize God’s love for us (the world) in sending Jesus to take away our sin (the reason for the Christmas season), then begin showing that love to others (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Peter 2:24; John 3:16-17; 15:9-14, 8; 17:3; 1 John 3:16-18). Then our real joy comes in knowing the outcome of our way of life on earth (Luke 10:1-3, 17-21; John 16:20-24; Romans 15:13; Hebrews 12:22-24).

Jesus said he came that we might have the abundant life (John 10:10). To have that life, now and for eternity, we must receive Jesus as Lord and King (I like the Christmas song, “Joy to the World”!). We receive Jesus when we confess him as Lord and are united with him in baptism for forgiveness (Romans 10:8-13; 6:3-5; John 1:10-13; Galatians 3:26-28; 4:6-7; Acts 2:38-39). Let me know if you want to discuss that as time is flying (Acts 22:16).

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].