Thoughts for another day

August 24, 2006

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 8:3. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. (KJV).

In the daily hustle bustle of life, we do not find time to sit with God. Our devotion to Him is simply non-existent. When the thought comes that we have not prayed, our prayer is, ‘God, I hope you understand. You know I love You and want to be with You, yet I actually am so busy I don’t have the time; I hope You don’t mind…’

There was once a ‘very busy’ man called Harry, who died suddenly and went up there. He was sore angry with God because he was on an important assignment, which he thought only he could do and was extremely important for his company. He decided to ask God why He couldn’t wait atleast till he finished the assignment. God led him to a book and made him open it. He saw his life displayed there. Each event, each moment and everything he did. The times when he was invited to church and he exclaimed and said, ‘But, you see I don’t have the time, think of all the work I need to do.’

He was quite proud of his accomplishments as he saw them unfold before his eyes and scenes of him getting accolades, floated around. But as he looked, he saw something else. After each scene as he looked at his achievement, it hardly appeared as one, because the project just fizzled out and the company dropped it. Result – no gain. He looked at one instance and he saw his boss with his rival in the organisation and both were talking about him and saying, what a stupid fellow; he thinks he will achieve a lot and he will but it will be completely useless. He was stunned.

Another project on which he had worked hard and had earned much acclaim as well as a hefty bonus, was quietly shelved by his management. He was aware it was shelved but now he saw the reason. The consultants misjudged the business potential and going further would mean a colossal loss. He remembered having questioned the management and they transferred him to another department saying that they needed his expertise in that department. Of course he was given more money et al.

So he went through his book; every episode told him that whatever he had done was futile. When his colleagues came for his funeral, he saw his subordinate telling his boss, ‘thank God the fellow has gone. Atleast now I can be promoted’. His boss tapped his back saying, ‘yes, he was blocking your promotion.’ And to say that just a few days back, his boss had told him, ‘how could we ever manage without you Harry?’

Then God showed him the book ‘what if?’ And he saw himself at a particular time when he had separated from his wife, his friend had called him for a retreat and he had not gone. Later his wife had divorced him. Now God showed him the blessing he would have got had he attended the retreat. And he saw him walking down an avenue with trees on both sides, his hand in his wife’s hand and both of them at peace. God showed him a number of situations where, had he only prayed and remembered God, his life would have been different.

The man felt the remorse well up in him, but it was too late. He never had time to know God, leave alone love Him. He was sent to eternal damnation.

My friend, if you also have no time for God understand, you will not find time to know many issues concerning your very self. Neither will you know God and be able to appropriate His success. So wake up now from your sleep and turn to Him for help. He will help because He always has the time to know you.