Thank You, Father, for enabling me to accomplish so much today, both home and church responsibilities. It all adds up!

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Today, I was near a park that is a part of our school property and came upon a growth of wildflowers. And let me tell you, they were abuzz with life! Bumblebees, flies, and a few honeybees as well. The above picture is just a small slice of the action.

Time is short, and they are all doing what they can before the soon-approaching winter is upon us. (We’ve been in the 70s the last few days, but they are calling for highs in the 40s next week with lows below freezing! It is Ohio, after all!) These critters know that time is of the essence, and everything they can store away will put them (or their queens, at least) that much further ahead. They instinctively realize that the time for harvesting is wrapping up…and soon!

I haven’t spoken about it recently, but time is of the essence for us as well. It seems that the “end-times” mentality is also touching many followers of Christ. Jesus’ eminent return appears to be on the tip of every tongue. Be that the case or not, we really have no idea when that event will transpire. (Though many spend hours upon hours trying to figure it out – trying to put all the pieces together to find the answer.)

Jesus is recorded in Matthew 24:36 as saying,

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” NLT

So, yes, time is of the essence, but it is not to have everything figured out…reread the above verse.

So, if that is the case, why do I hold that time is of the essence? From the day Jesus stepped back into the heavenly realms, we have been called to be about the harvest! Time is short! It is far too soon for many; the end will soon be upon them. I cannot count the number of people who, over the past couple of weeks, have crossed over into eternity. No more breaths to be taken upon God’s green earth. All decisions made on their part have been taken and cannot be altered. What is, is…

We must be about the harvest! People all around us are searching for answers in all kinds of places, and here we sit, knowing the Answer to…well, to everything! Peace, love, understanding, forgiveness, wholeness…whatever our questions may be, Jesus is the answer to them all!

Bees may work for the queen, but we, my friends, are working for the King! May we not waste time attempting to find answers to questions we are not supposed to know, but instead, may we diligently strive to provide answers to questions that are literally a matter of life or death! Lord help us!

Oct 26th, 2023, Thurs, 7:10 pm