Several days ago, I began to read a biography of the life of Adoniram Judson. I say began,
because it is a thick book, and I have by no means finished it!
However, I want to share with you an exerpt from a letter he wrote to
his is wife before they were married.
"Of how much
real happiness we cheat our souls by preferring a trifle to God! We have
a general intention of living religion; but we intend to begin
to-morrow or next year. The present moment we prefer giving to the world.
'A little more sleep, a little more slumber.' Well, a little more sleep,
and we shall sleep in the grave. A few more days, and our work will be
done. And when it is once done, it is done to all eternity., A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity. If it be marked with sins, the marks
will be indelible. If it has been a useless life, it can never be
improved. Such it will stand forever and ever. The same may be said of
each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will
exhibit forever. It will never become less true that such a day was
spent in such a manner. Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny.
No day will lose its share of influence in determining where shall be
our seat in heaven. How shall we then wish to see each day marked with
usefulness! It will then be too late to mend its appearance. It is too
late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us,
then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a
garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect
that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked."
This
was a tremendous challenge to me to manage the time I still have and
redeem it, "because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:16) Time is one of
the most precious resources God has given to us. Indeed, time is so
precious that no amount of money can buy so much as one second of it. No
amount of worldly power can increase the amount of time we receive each
day. Everyone who lives through a day has had access to the same amount
of time. How will yours be marked for eternity?
