This was one of those unending weeks where alien space slips were landing everywhere (no not alien space ships that can fly us away, but alien space slips - those strange invisible uber terrestrial vehicles that fly in and grab the edges of the time we have and pull it forward while we are not looking) and our only natural response is "where did the time go?". The older we get the more we are troubled by these vessels of time-way robbery, but while younger they were welcomed by our announcements that we were bored and had an urge that mysteriously pushed forward to grow up (that's where they first got us!)
Here is the rub ... The Kids of the Kingdom of God, since the fall in the garden, have been fed a "politically correct" thread of lies from the Serpent via his "world-savvy" evangelists - "Keep your Faith quiet, Be careful not to offend anyone". "Remember, be politely pluralistic - you have a secular and a sacred life to lead and it must be in kept in check." "Worship is for the houses of worship, not the work place."
I would like to state this for the record - There is truly no secular; only fallen tasks that have no Breath because they either violate or ignore the desires of God. There is an attitude in the unregenerate heart of man that leads us to believe that God is not interested in our affairs that provide a living for us here on this side of Heaven. (what a divisive lie!) Every noble task to work on this planet that serves people at some level is a Divinely Called appointment, everyone one of us need to see the grace of God in each task and appointment; and welcome God's desire to walk with us and in us ... into the lives of men who may not realize how much they desperately need Him.
BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD!!!! (The Alien Space-Slips are ready to pull your time forward!)
Now this is where the wrestling match with "alien space-slips" gets interesting because they do not want us aware of the true power we have over time as God's Kids:
Ephesians 5:16 - "Redeeming the time, because he days are evil." We, as believers and followers of Christ, have the gift to buy back time out of the market place of men's lives because of the Hope of Glory within us. The days being intrinsically without wholeness, without lasting goodness, and down right evil (don't be fooled by the smiles - sin is only a pleasure for a season) carry with them God's mandate that we be about the business of living openly as Good News Advocates. If this advocacy is actively advancing there will be far more comfort appropriated than the momentary discomfort of getting out of our complacent comfort zones. If we get one step beyond the Serpent's lies we will realize that Love waits there with a rescue.
Colossians 4:5 - "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." Stand upright and move forward in the wisdom of the words of scripture when dealing with those outside "The Door" ... Buy the time... out of the present squandering of their life way and lead them lovingly into God's Way. The only wasted life is a life in Christ that has been neutralized and paralyzed by the lies of the Devil (The first lie he loves for us to believe is that he does not exist).
Special note for Good News Advocates: Actually - " alien space-slips" work mostly on the minds of those who have no positive plan to make an impact on the Kingdom of men during this clash time with the kingdom of God. Plan to redeem the time by living openly for Jesus everyday.
In the squeeze of life that comes because of the "time limit" - don't lose out, and don't give in - remember the people around you - love the people around you, and activate your advocacy by being ready to give an answer to every man who humbly asks you ... "What is the reason that you live with such hope?"
We say, "No one ever asks!" -- I guess we have some redeeming to do to get the jump on the "alien space-slips".
HLFA
Jeff