“…the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.”
C. S. Lewis – The Screwtape Letters
This exact moment in time. It is not our past. It is not our future. It is our now.
This present moment – this immediate now is an intersection with eternity.
This unique moment, one which will not be repeated, offers opportunity. An opportunity to choose whether your thoughts, your words, your decisions, or your actions in this moment will have only short-term, earthly consequences or if, your use of this moment will echo throughout eternity.
We live in an extraordinary time – strange, challenging, confusing, frustrating, and often scary. Coming out of the pandemic, still stinging from the loss of loved ones and friends, continued social upheaval, political craziness, roller coaster economics, unemployment, natural and unnatural disasters across our country and the world, and wars and rumors of war around the globe.
In each moment of this difficult season, we each must make choices to:
- Hate or Love
- Be Depressed or Joy-filled
- Be Anxious or at Peace
- Be Frustrated or Patient
- Be Short-tempered or to Extend Kindness
- Be Self-centered or to Seek the Good for Those Around You
- Be Callous or Extend Gentleness
- Be Rash in Your Behavior or to Think Before You Act
- Be Agitated in Your Spirit or to be Self-controlled
- Live in Fear or Faith
Each individual moment is an intersection with eternity.
HOW will YOU choose to live this moment?
I’ve learned that it is easier to live in the moment in a God-pleasing manner IF I have already chosen how I will respond when confronted with challenges and situations requiring a choice.
The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4 and Galatians 5, tells us WHAT our lives are to look like if we want to make each moment count for Christ and all eternity:
Ephesians 4:1-2, urges us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Galatians 5:22-24, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
We get the HOW in Galatians 5:25 where we see how we become fruit-filled believers equipped to make the choices of the moment that please God and have eternal impact:
Galatians 5:25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Walking in step with God’s Holy Spirit means allowing Him to:
- Take the lead
- Guide our steps
- Fill our hearts
- Anoint our lips
- Shepherd our thoughts
- Control our spirit
How will you live each moment?
Will you be a Spirit-filled fruit-bearer REGARDLESS of the circumstances?
Will you live each moment in a manner that will honor your Savior and bring glory to your Lord?
This is my challenge to you and to myself:
Live each moment courageously and intentionally, allowing God’s Holy Spirit to be in control.
Live each moment fruitfully and impactfully.
Live each moment realizing that it has eternal repercussions.
Remembering always that all our moments are in His Hands.
No matter how insane the world becomes,
Our God is. . .
“One God and Father of all,
Who is OVER all and THROUGH all and IN all.”
Ephesians 4:6