JUST ABOUT TIME!
Rev. J. Loren Russell, B.A., MDiv.
Genesis 5:27 (KJV)
“And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.”
Psalms 56:4
“In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”
Romans 8:35
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Last week, I shared how I was reunited with an old friend while in Charlotte, NC. I attributed that to divine providence. As I thought about that meeting, I re-read the eloquently words found in the poem, “A Reason, A Season, A Lifetime.” This poem was written to describe the positive impact people have who come into our lives.
The person of reason contributes in a specific and/or particular way. It was never intended for them to be there for an extended period. So they come, teach a lesson, and before you know it, they’re gone.
The season person brings bursts of joy, but only for a period of time. They are there for a duration to help you grow, to share and to learn lessons of life. Then, like the change of season, they’re gone.
Then there is the lifetime person who comes to give guidance for daily living, to lend instruction that helps us build our life foundation and construct our lives. Their contributions can be positive or negative, constructive or destructive, helpful or hurtful, but they are given so that we can learn. If we’re fortunate, at least one of these “lifer’s” will pour into the foundation of our lives insights and wisdom filled with the Holy Spirit and saturated with the love and grace of Jesus Christ. They will help us to understand how to be faithful in any and every situation; how to present our bodies as living sacrifices; provide encouragement so that we are strong, unmovable, and always ready to be a blessing to others even as others have been a blessing to us; teaching us to always give credit to the Lord for every good and perfect gift in our lives. They will share with us the Word of God so that we know how to praise the Lord, how to trust the Lord, and how not to fear any man.
“In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” (Psalms 56:4KJV)
These lifetime people will let you know that once you have a relationship with The Lord, nothing can separate you from His love;
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35 KJV)
They will teach you perseverance, so that you know that everything works together for good to those who love The Lord;
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)
Your life is also for a reason, a season and a lifetime; but for others. You cannot choose the duration, but you can choose how you show up in their lives. We should live our lives so that we are the blessing to others that we seek for ourselves. Then, when this life is over, we will hear the Lord say,
“Servant of God, job well done, Rest from your loved employ. The battle was caught, the victory won, enter your Master’s joy. The pains of life are over, labor and sorrow cease. Life’s great warfare has closed at last, your soul is found in peace.”
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; and creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio (internet). Listen every Monday evening from 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen on the internet at http://tobtr.com/s/7436671, or by phone at 626-226-1448.
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