“Time is filled with swift transition…”

October 6-7, 2019. Four college friends, who have spent our lives preaching, got together for the first time over 35 years at a Chalet in Pigeon Forge to hang out, decompress, and enjoy a round of golf. We had a blast and determined to make it an annual event. So on March 26, 2020 we had reservations for trip two, chalet reserved, tee time set. And, less than 24 hours before we were to go one and then another dropped out. Then 2022 happened. The year began with the news that one of us had developed Parkinson’s, in April another skirted death with multiple blood clots in the lungs, two months later the third had a major car wreck and narrowly escaped, and then two months after that the final of us four had a stroke and ended up in the hospital. Four healthy, active, friends. None of us saw it coming, and then. Time is indeed filled with swift transition.

I’m drawn to the words of the second verse of Charles Wesley’s wonderful song “A Charge to Keep Have I.”

To serve the present age,

My calling to fulfill;

Oh, may it all my pow'rs engage

To do my Master's will!

You and I each have a limited amount of time. “Redeem” it (Ephesians 5:16), “fill it up” (2 Timothy 4:5), we do not know what tomorrow holds, so serve the Lord with the time you have (James 4). Yes, there are plenty of distractions, discouragements, and dissuasions, but your work for this generation, for this day is needed. Thank you for making the most of it.