If there would be a time in history where the excitement of living is almost at its peakest level, it would be... Today.
The advent of modern technology and the internet have made people's living condition more convenient, fast, and more efficient. There had been no time in history before, where this kind of environment was existent.
But did you realize that this is also the season in history where a lot of people's precious time - one of the most valuable commodities in one's life - have been wasted and squandered profusely?
In Southeast Asia alone, I saw and heard reports where students managed to skip school classes to go spending their time in the internet cafes. Parents are greatly dismayed upon the knowledge received from teachers, that their son or daughter had skipped classes.
What would be the implication of these changes, then, to the next generation?
We all know that time spent shall by no means be recovered again. In the scripture, the Book of Ephesians reminds us in saying: "Make the most of every opportunity... redeem the time, because the days are evil." - Eph. 5:16
What!?? The days are what?? ... Evil???
Yes... these days - the one we have today, the 21st Century - are evil!
"Wait, wait, wait, Ed... I thought you said earlier that we're now living in the most exciting moment in history. What made the sudden change? You are getting ironic," someone may comment.
Well, I believe, that these massive changes, growth, improvement, and development that we have in the 21st century will all be for us or shall be against us, depending upon our proper and wise utilization of our allotted and limited time here on earth.
The Book of Psalms wisely said, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." - Ps. 90:12
Again, I believe, that the above cited verse is fitly knitted for us today.
Let me say this: "The primary reason why the Creator has equally and fairly given each of the 7.4 Billion of us a 24/7, 7dys/wk, 168hrs/wk - meaning, TIME - is for the sole purpose of utilizing this very precious commodity, in the fulfillment of our individual reason for existence.
Time is a very important processor of our purpose. When time is wasted, purpose is stunted, and worse, purpose is incapacitated. While it's true that purpose can never be destroyed, the terrifying scenario would be, when such purpose is never achieved nor fulfilled - because of ignorance, indifference, or willfully destroying such purpose by deliberately wasting time and preoccupying ourselves with a lot of good, but not the right things for us - then, tragedy is evident.
Time and time again, I will reiterate that, God gave us time for the sole reason of achieving and fulfilling our purpose.
The well-respected and renowned preacher from Bahamas wisely acclaimed, "The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose." - Dr. Myles Munroe (1954-2014).
In view of the foregoing, how, then, are we going to run or occupy - as instructed by Yeshua in Luke 19:13 - appropriately and accordingly in this 21st century generation?
Well, please allow me to share with you an insight or an idea - anyway, everything begins, created, and emanated via an idea.
Let me humbly say this - though some of you already heard this before:
Poor people always talk about money. Rich people talk about things. Wealthy people talk about ideas... Small minds discuss about people. Average minds discuss about events, but great minds discuss about ideas...
... and God's big idea is this - Seek you first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things that you need shall be attracted unto you - all these things that you need, shall come running after you.
This is what I'm really trying to point out by highlighting the above statement:
It is deemed necessary for this 21st century, to change and shift our focus from what is trivial to what is really crucial and significant. There is, indeed, a demand or a necessity for us to change our gear and opt for a paradigm shift; a change in our mindset; a change in the way we think; a crucial change in our lifestyle.
Discussing about trivial things concerning money, talking about things - like our cars; our big houses; our beaches; our investments, discussing about people, and discussing about events, should be the least tackled among the lists of our
everyday conversation.
Let me modesty confess this to you, my dear beloved fellow Kingdom citizens:
The 21st century of our season requires that we focus, talk, discuss, learn, grow, improve, propagate, broadcast, cultivate, and execute everything about the ideas on the following - the Kingdom of God and righteousness; God, Himself; the welfare and interest of our brethren; and the welfare and interest of prospected/ would-be Kingdom citizens:
1. Righteousness & the Kingdom of God
This is where we are to engage, colonize, invade, occupy, infiltrate, and influence the world system, just like yeasts. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeasts..." - Matt. 13:33
Whenever we are at the ball park with our kids or in a movie theater with our family, that would be an opportunity for us to engage, as well. If we allow our creativity to kick-in, with the help of the Spirit of God, we can still actively represent the King even in these places.
Our main agenda here is to abide by this principle: "Let Your Kingdom come, let your will be done on earth, just like it is in Heaven." - Matt. 6:9-10
Likewise, with the help of the Governor, the Holy Spirit, we shall diligently immersed ourselves with the letter and spirit of the Word of God for righteousness. The Book of Timothy states, "All scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness..." - 2 Tim. 3:16-17
In the same way, the spirit of the Word of God is the source of life: "The words I've spoken to you are spirit, and they are life." - Yeshua (John 6:63b)
2. God, Himself
"Now, this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent," is what Yeshua said in John 17:3.
This is what I believe: The highest form of knowledge in the world is the revelation knowledge of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The same goes true with the Book of Jeremiah where it says, "This is what the Lord says, 'Let not the wise man boasts of his wisdom, or the strong man boasts of his strength, or the rich man boasts of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me...'" - Jer. 9:23-24
3. The interest of our brethren
This is where mentoring comes to actively play. We shall not only give them fishes, but teach them how to catch net-breaking fishes.
4. The interest of would-be Kingdom citizens
In here, we shall exercise our keenness and discernment to identify those whose hearts are ready and prepared to be planted with the Word, and are already positioned by God to become or would-be Kingdom citizens. Coupled with our good deeds and kind works towards them, we shall win them into the Kingdom of God.
In retrospect, the aforementioned ideas shall be our benchmark to cope up and thrive as we effectively arm ourselves towards our mission of engaging, invading, and influencing the world for the Kingdom of God.
In like manner, we shall be able to maximize the use of our limited time wisely by changing our line of thoughts on ideas that will catapult us towards fulfilling our assigned mission, and further advance His Kingdom.
Hence, we can boldly declare that the 21st century is loaded with great opportunities and favorable possibilities for each and everyone of us.
Have a nice day... To the King!
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mix into a large amount of flour, until it work all through the dough." - Matt. 13:33
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