Time’s Unraveling

This Chinese merchant’s misfortune occurred in Suzhou City.

The merchant was driving his truck through the Jiangsu province hauling a large spool of fabric. The huge spool must have been mounted on a large rack and spindle to allow it to turn freely. For as the truck raced through town the fabric began to unravel on the road, “spreading like a carpet behind it.” Before the driver realized what was happening 328 feet of factory-fresh fabric had unraveled on the road.

You know, in a way life is like this truck with its unraveling fabric. Each day we have the opportunity to either make something of the fabric or allow it to unspool away. The fabric only remains when we turn it into something useful, something that benefits others. Time is like that fabric. Each passing day presents its opportunities to use our time, talents and resources for a worthy cause. One day we will ask ourselves, Where did the time go? Where did all those opportunities to serve God and humanity flee to? More than likely, selfish pursuits, leisure time, and laziness consumed them. We allowed them to unravel and waste our lives.

Time is unravelling our lives more quickly than we realize it. Yesterday’s opportunities and yesterday’s talents are gone. They only become permanent when we use them to serve God and to bless and benefit others. Scripture commands us to “make the best use of the time” (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5). For eternity is staring us in the face and we do not want to face our Creator empty-handed, with nothing to show for the lifetime of opportunities He’s given us.

PRAYER:

Dear Father in heaven, please open my eyes to the blessings and opportunities You give me every day. Please awaken my conscience to the obligation I have to share those blessings and to make the most of those opportunities. Please, dear God, motivate me to prepare for Your judgment seat and for eternity. Amen.