Daylight lasts much longer this month and thank heavens for a few extra hours to enjoy God’s creation, but once the sun goes down, it becomes instantly cooler. I prefer this early evening light and landscape to early mornings, always have. Watching the sun drop behind the tree line, veiled by clouds, is the most beautiful and peaceful thing I can imagine. The intensity of the pinks, reds, and purples is amazing and often, by the time I dash to grab my phone to capture a photo, the entire scene has shifted and the moment is lost. The shadows begin to deepen as night falls and since the fireworks are now spent, all is still and quiet.
I have no way of knowing with certainty, but it’s always safe to assume that we are living in the sunset of creation. Mantras like live every day as if it’s your last and seize the day recognize that at some point, all our moments will be spent. We recognize that our days are numbered but how does that realization affect how we choose to spend our lives? I say spend because our minutes are the most valuable currency, more precious than silver or gold, but rarely treasured in the same way.
I spent a week at the beach with a few of my children and young grandchildren last week and I can tell you with certainty, we budgeted our time like never before. We had three uninterrupted days between traveling days and factoring in sleep and nap times for the little ones, every moment of daylight needed to be thought out in advance. Try bathing an overtired toddler before wrestling them into bed and expecting them to find sleep!
We cannot control every minute of every day with any sort of precision because there are many things that defy control but we will be held accountable for how we choose to invest the time given to us by our Creator.
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.
He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word.
And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.”
James 1:17-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.17-18.NLT
“Those who have been given a trust must prove that they are faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/1co.4.2.NIRV
Jesus told many stories about stewarding well the gifts of God and He also taught His followers to rely on God’s provision in every area.
“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
Luke 12:25-26, 31 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.12.25-31.NLT
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.
But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”
Luke 16:10, 12, 11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.16.10-12.NLT
“And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.
Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’
And you are right.
When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is.
You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.
Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?”
Luke 12:42-43, 54-57 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.12.42-57.NLT
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
But don’t just listen to God’s word.
You must do what it says.
Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
James 1:21-27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.21-27.NLT
Picking and enjoying fully ripened figs at the beach made me wish for the hundreds on my tree at home to ripen more quickly. It’s tempting to rush seasons of growth on to maturity but these things take time. A certain amount of sunshine and rain over a period of time is required for a fruitful harvest. God is always working to produce the fruit of His Spirit in the lives of His children as He makes us into the image of His beloved Son.
“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God.
You will always harvest what you plant.
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.
But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.
At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Galatians 6:7-9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.6.7-9.NLT
“So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too.
For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.
You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.
You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do.
So they slander you.
But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.
The end of the world is coming soon.
Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.
Use them well to serve one another.
Do you have the gift of speaking?
Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you.
Do you have the gift of helping others?
Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.
Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.
All glory and power to him forever and ever!
Amen.
1 Peter 4:1-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.4.1-12.NLT
“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip.
When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
You, too, must keep watch!
For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak.
Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning.
I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!””
Mark 13:34-37 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.13.34-37.NLT
“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.
The night is coming, and then no one can work.”
John 9:4 NLT
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