2001-10-08 - Recreation

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether then you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

A short while ago a devotional family member wrote me and mentioned that she had deleted from her computer her solitaire program. It made me think a little about use of time. I know the baseball playoffs are upon us. Hockey season just started (my interest). Professional basketball preseason camps just began. Football season is in full swing. The new TV season is here and the winter Olympics are fast approaching. We might ask: God can you compete with all this? Even if these things I have mentioned are not your fancy there are lots of other things that compete for our attention. How about the fact that we are at war? Don't you find that so many things are invading your life and wanting your attention? We all do, but let us not allow God to lose the first place in our lives.

Today I would like to encourage you in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. What I would not like to do is to paint the Lord as a cosmic kill joy. I grew up thinking that way and it helped little in my desire to serve Christ. Rather, I have found and still find that my true happiness is found in Christ alone. Solus Christos, as they wrote in the Reformation, is still true today: "Christ alone". But I also do not wish to encourage anyone to walk in a manner unbecoming a servant of Jesus Christ. One of the most penetrating verses, actually two verses, I have ever meditated on are found in Philippians 3:18, 19, "For many walk, of whom I often told you and now tell you, even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ. Whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, whose glory is in their same, who set their mind on earthly things." Ponder that passage for a while, it will change your life.

My instinct is to end here and say, "I have about 3-4 more paragraphs to write, we will save those for another day. I really want you to think about those verses." But, continue I will and offer a couple of things to think about regarding recreation.

How much does recreating cost you? There is some part of me that wants peace with the world. Part of my fantasy of that peace is living on a lake in some place no one has ever seen and going out each morning and fishing for my daily food. I don't even like fish. But what I want is that blessed concept that is expressed in 1 Timothy 2:1, 2, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." It is that last part that gets me, a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity, how I long for it. And I also know that it will be heaven before I find it.

But how much does your recreation cost you? Or better yet, how much time does it eat up? Time is very precious. It is worth more than gold. And time is flying past you. "O Lord, what is man, that Thou doest take knowledge of him? Or the Son of man that Thou doest think of Him? Man is like a mere breath, his days are like a passing shadow." Psalm 144:3, 4. A passing shadow, that's all. A mere breath. Breath in, hold it, as long as you can, that's what Scripture compares the amount of time you have to serve the one who saved you from the hellish pit sinners deserve. Exhale. That's your life. How much time does recreation cost you? Time is precious.

There were many things I wanted to write today. I have hit on none that I planned. This might be good, it might be bad. I will know from your responses, I am sure. If this seems hard core today, ok. But let me say something clearly...I am writing to myself probably more than I am to anyone else. I am a lover of joy. I like to have a good time. I have a motorcycle that has a sweet spot around 90mph. But I must ask myself what I am asking you to ask yourself, in the light of eternity, how much is fun costing? What will I (&you) think about lost time when in year 34590, or 847342? How much will my need for "time for Tim" mean then? May the Lord help us to find things that are recreating and yet also serve His kingdom. Maranatha!

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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