Eternal Potential

It has been a blessing to attend the graduation parties and ceremonies of several high school graduates the past several weeks. I returned to my old high school to see my niece graduate which was both nostalgic and distressing. You see it has been eighteen years since my graduation at Fort Osage (that is nostalgic) which is enough time to encompasses my niece’s entire life span (that is distressing)! Time has a way of making a guy feel old.

 

As I watched the speeches and saw the graduates receive their honors, I could not help but marvel at the potential in these young students. Truly the rest of their lives are before them. Even those who have made mistakes have time to take corrective action and realize the potential that lies ahead of them.

 

Oh the power of potential! Each breath we take is by the grace of God. The wise men of scripture understood the precious nature of time. King David said, Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah (Psalms 39:5). Moses said, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (Psalms 90:12). There is no doubt that time is one of the greatest gifts of grace God has ever given man.

 

It is so easy to ignore or squander the grace of God. Many live their lives ignoring the preciousness of time because they know in their heart it is limited and they would rather not face the eventuality of death. For that same reason many never avail themselves of the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ because they really don’t believe the failed tests of time can be forgiven. The most remarkable thing about the opportunity of eternal life is that it comes without any strings or work attached. Grace that saves us from the sins we commit in time is freely given to anyone that will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10,13).

 

The apostle Paul said, Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Colossians 4:5) The child of God only has a limited number of days to manifest eternity in time then it is time to graduate. The grace we have received has eternal potential! Someday soon the trump will blow and all those who have truly trusted in the living Lord Jesus Christ will graduate in an eternal class that will joyfully worship God for eternity!.

 

Romans 13:11

  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.