HARRY MARTINEZ: What's in a Day, Pt. 2

May 22—The daily activities of life are framed within the element of time. Solomon wrote ... "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Eccl 3:1 NKJV). However, when speaking of that which occurs in the divine realm, the Apostle Peter reminds fellow believers ... "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8 NKJV). His words were a gentle reminder that those who have placed their faith in Christ as Savior are to patiently trust him for ... "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV).

Scripture has many references to time particularly in terms of days. First and foremost is the urgent need for an individual to trust Christ as one's Savior ... "behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2b NKJV). That act of faith in Christ occurs in a moment of time, yet it guarantees an eternity with God. Then follows the daily pursuit of learning God's Word. The Psalmist wrote ... "Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day" (Ps 25:4-5 NKJV).

The Apostle Peter closed his last letter written from death row with these words ... "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18 NKJV). He was stressing the importance of learning the Word of God, since it is the only source of knowing God's thinking which is to govern the Christian's life. Solomon gave these instructions ... "My son, keep your father's command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you" (Prov 6:20-22 NKJV).

Similarly, the Apostle Paul wrote to the churches in Rome ... "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Rom 12:1-2 NKJV). "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom 8:5-7 NKJV).

While faith in Christ instantly results in eternal life and relationship with God, spiritual growth demands the daily intake of the Word of God. The priorities in one's day must be reordered so that the legitimate tasks in life allow time for learning the Word. Paul told the believers in Colosse that we ... "do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col 1:9-10 NKJV).

The result of learning and applying God's Truth to every circumstance in life brings stability, inner peace and tranquility of soul. Jesus said ... "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30 NKJV).

Harry Martinez, a resident of Albany, is a retired minister who served a nondenominational congregation in Florida. His weekly column appears in several South Georgia newspapers.