In the Ever-Diminishing Light 11.17.2022

    On Sunday, November 6th we “fell back”. On Saturday, November 12th Grayville woke up to around 3 inches of snow. The fullness of Autumn is upon us. Mrs. Beckman and I really like this time of year. The cats spend more time sleeping, yes, it is possible. The days are getting shorter. Grayville First Christian Church shared our seasonal Thanksgiving dinner Sunday after Church. We have been discussing plans for the Advent and the Christmas holidays for a couple of weeks now. Parties are planned and a day is set aside for decorating the Church. We are seven weeks from the new year. 

    There is still a lot of work to be done. There is nothing I like better than working in the gloaming of the day. I was in my Study early and finished the central task of the day (Mondays are for finishing next Sunday’s sermon). It is mid-afternoon and Mrs. Beckman and I have spoken on the phone prior to her departure for work. I have lots of varied tasks on my to-do list and I generally use this time of day to work on long-term study.  

    The ever-diminishing light is a reminder that time is a valuable commodity, a non-renewable resource that is available to each of us in the same quantity. How we invest our time, determines its value to each of us. It can be squandered or leveraged, sanctified, or debased. The very same choice is available to every one of us human creatures. Paul described the process like this:

    “Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16 ESV)

Each of us must determine, based on the work we are called to do, and the gifts God has provided, how to make the best use of our time in our fallen, desperate age. 

    My goal is to encourage you. If you are a preacher, I hope you will value the time you are given to study and prepare. That you will see it as an investment. An investment that will compound throughout your entire career in ministry. What you do as the light breaks every morning, and as the darkness falls every evening can have a great impact if you make the best of it. 

    Much of the time that Paul redeemed was spent “behind bars.” Yet he made the most of it and we preach and teach from the fruit of his study, prayer, and writing to this very day. We’re not Paul, but there is always a next sermon, another lesson, a future opportunity given to us by God to be His messenger. The weight of this honor and privilege should weigh upon us calling us to do our best in every situation. The sun rises and falls. Every day we should ask, “What will I do with this day, from dawn until dusk how shall I use the time I am given?”