Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10
“Can you believe another month has come and gone?” For the last twenty-four years on the first of every month that has been my tag line for the “Baptist Hour.” And now, that part of my ministry life is ending. I’m not sure what I will do now at 7:00 am on the first of every month!
So, some of you are asking, what is the Baptist Hour? Well, it is supposed to be the longest continuously running religious radio program in the world. Our church sponsors that program on the first of every month. So, every first of the month that’s where you will find me at 7:00 am. And it all began for me one summer morning.
I came as pastor for Dorrisville Baptist Church in July 2000. We were one week out from Vacation Bible School. I was moving in, getting settled and wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into. I believe it was a Wednesday the week of Vacation Bible School and my new friend Ben Sisk found me somewhere in the Preschool Department. Ben was the chairman of our deacons, old enough to know Noah personally and was just a great guy. He tapped me on the shoulder and said these words, “Has anyone told you that you are on the radio tomorrow morning at 7:00 am?” That loud thud was the sound was my jaw hitting the floor.
“What?” I asked. It wasn’t that we weren’t both speaking English it was just it caught me totally off-guard. I had nothing prepared (obviously), I had never spoken on the radio, never talked to a microphone in an empty room and finally, I was drowning in the “new kid on the block” waters. Well, all that didn’t matter because it was my deal. So, another pastor agreed to accompany me for moral support and off I went. I survived.
I don’t remember too much about it all, I just remember getting through it. “Whew…glad that is over.” I said under my breath. And do you know what happened? In 31 extremely short days it was time to do it again. It was like the movie “Ground Hog Day” except in that movie it was every 24 hours life started over. So, I got to the station, got behind the microphone again and said, “Can you believe another month has come and gone?” And the rest is history. It’s all old hat now. I enjoy the opportunity to share, and I love saying, “Can you believe another month has come and gone?”
The first is coming again in just a week and a half but I won’t be going to the station. I will be at a pastor’s conference which means someone will be speaking in my place. But wait, since my “next chapter” begins June 1st, I guess I am done with my first of the month date with the Baptist Hour. But whether I am at the station or not, I’m sure I will still be befuddled that another month has come and gone. It will be May which means we are starting month number five this year. It means that we are seven months away from Christmas and it means that time is going by very quickly. And, before we know it, this season, and this year will be gone. When you are treading water like so many of us are, it is easy to zone out and just try and make it. God has a better idea.
In Psalm 90:10, Moses writes to us and says, “Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly, and we fly away.” I woke up earlier this year and realized that I was 70 years old. Where did the time go? They are indeed passing quickly and one day, each of us will, “fly away.” But until the day we launch into eternity Moses has one more piece of advice. He says in verse 12, “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” In other words, we must make each day matter—each day count.
I know in my life, and I can imagine in yours, we are both wishing time away. We are saying, “I’ll be glad when all this is over.” It’s akin to saying on Monday, “I’ll be glad when Friday comes.” Wait a second before you press the “do not disturb” button or go into standby mode. There is too much to do—too many opportunities to grab, too many blessings to live and too many adventures to launch into. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:15-16 “Pay careful attention, then, to how you live—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time because the days are evil.” Making the most of the time—even suffering time, even corona virus time, even this time.
One of my favorite verses to use out of context is when Jesus was speaking to Judas. In John 13:27 He says, “What you’re doing, do quickly.” So, whatever you need to do, are wanting to do—do quickly—don’t put it off. Today is the day and now is the time to do life right. Love someone, encourage someone, be kind to someone—give your spouse and kids a hug. Laugh. Smile. Oh, and take some time to rest in Him. And most of all? Remember, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 