Time and Distance
Time and Distance
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18
In my previous career I was a firearms trainer and instructor. Two things I learned that would either help or hinder a shooting situation were time and distance.
The closer you were to something that you were shooting at, the faster you were able to shoot because you didn’t need as much accuracy.
The further away you were shooting, the slower you needed to shoot for better accuracy.
Accuracy was harder to teach, speed had to be controlled and both depended on distance to the target. Another variable was if the target was moving, how fast and if the target was moving closer or further away.
Enough about this. This is kind of my analogy on life and your relationship with God.
Your relationship with Christ is centered on both of those things, time and distance. The more time you commit to putting Christ at the center of your life, the closer your relationship with Him will be. And likewise, and obviously, the less time you spend, the further your relationship will be.
Our obedience and sacrifice isn’t a negative thing - it proves our admonishment for Him. It shouldn’t be thought of as something to do. It isn’t an Old Testament sacrifice. Our time isn’t really ours anyways. And at any moment it can slip away.
We all think there isn’t enough time in the day. We cram our days with activities, conversations and self indulgence. We put a lot of effort and focus on ourselves and other people, just not God.
I think about over 40 years of doing things for myself, and not good things either. All the time, effort and energy spent away from God. Even the little things. It was that time that created distance between me and God.
People will say that “this or that” is important - but is it really?
Can you imagine the relationship you can build with God?
I’m fortunate to be available right now. To have more time. And I also make the time. I pray constantly throughout the day. There are no specific prayer times anymore. I’ve removed the less important things, spend less time at lunch, more time in prayer, cutting fifteen minutes here and adding another twenty there.
My Bible is the only book I read. I read other smaller things, but nothing that takes more than five minutes. The Bible is my reading.
Building a relationship with God takes time. It’s time that you have to make for Him. You have to push things away for Him and give Him that time. Nobody else can do it for you.
The more time you spend, the closer you will get. I bet you can find at least one thing to spend less time on today.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1
“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
James 4:8 KJV