Telling The Time

Text: James 4:13-14

Introduction:  The counting of years – The telling of time.

Man has always been concerned with time and has devised ways to mark the passing of time. He has used sundials, the hourglass, water clocks, and mechanical devices, and when entering the digital age, the issue of time did not escape him. In the atomic age, the atomic clock measures time with the utmost precision.

        Tomorrow evening, a great ball will drop in New York City to mark the passing of another year in a place called…what else but Times Square. There is even a soap opera that recognizes the passage of time which says, “As sands through the hour glass, so go the days of our lives.”

        Very early in life, our children are taught to tell time even while they are learning to tie their shoes. Time has been important to man since time began and it does not escape notice in the Bible.

I.                 Time is Brief

Psa. 39:5 (NIV)

5          You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

        the span of my years is as nothing before you.

        Each man’s life is but a breath.

A.      Time is Limited

                - Limited edition, and numbered prints. The days are numbered.

B.      Life is Limited

-          A precious commodity.

-          Time is Money

-          No such thing as spare time

C.      Opportunity is Limited

-          Get while the gettings good.

-          Make the most of the time you have

-          Leave no opportunity wasted, but take the time to say what needs said, take the time to do the things that need done while you have the opportunity. Leave with no regrets of opportunity wasted.

II.               Time is Uncertain

Prov. 27:1 (NIV)

1          Do not boast about tomorrow,

        for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

A.      As to What Will Happen

                - WTC – Uncertainty of the times. You never know what will happen.                      “I just couldn’t believe it.”

B.      As to When it Will Happen

                - at the funeral, many said “It was just last week, I was talking to him..”

C.      As to Who it Will Happen to.

                - On The Price is Right game show, no one knows who will be called                        until the announcer says “_____ Come on down.”

III.     Time is Ripe

2 Cor. 6:2 (NIV)

2For he says,

        “In the time of my favor I heard you,

        and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

A.      The Day of Decision

Josh. 24:15 (NIV)

15But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

- There will come a day when your decision will set for good. You can not just decide not to decide, because that is a decision in itself. The day will come when your decision will be measured by your actions.

B.      The Hour of Opportunity

Rev. 3:20 (NIV)

20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

C.      The Moment of Truth

                - Right now God sees you in time. He knows where you stand. To god,                   time is not uncertain, and He knows the number of your days. He tells                       you that “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Conclusion: “At the tone, the time will be . . .”

The trump of God shall sound and time will be no more.

Can you tell time? Time will tell.