There is a Time: and That Time is Now

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”(Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)

I just finished reading about the life of missionary David Brainerd, a 27 year-old missionary to the Indians of Crossweeksung, New Jersey. On November 3, 1745, a day he described as “a remarkable work of grace, he baptized 14 Indians who had professed faith in Christ. Of those, six were adults. One was an eighty year-old woman and two fifty year-old men who were notorious as town drunks. One of the men was a murderer as well.

What is remarkable is the amount Brainerd accomplished in such a short period of time. He was born in 1718, saved in 1739, and shortly thereafter entered the ministry, was instrumental in the Great Awakening while at Yale University, and later appointed a Presbyterian minister and missionary to the American Indians of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

David Brainerd described the day he joyously baptized 14 new converts as “a day when the Holy Spirit dramatically altered their lives.” Brainerd wrote in his journal, “Through rich grace, none of them have been left to disgrace their profession of Christianity by any scandalous or unbecoming behavior.

A year later, at the age of 28, David Brainerd, diagnosed earlier with tuberculosis, knew he was dying and that his time with the Indians was nearing an end. On November 3, 1746, a year to the day he gloriously baptized 14 converts, Brainerd visited each family in their home to say goodbye before his return trip to New England. That very evening he rode off, having completed his mission. A year later David Brainerd was dead at the age of 29. His “season of life” had come to an end.

David Brainerd accomplished much in his short time as a minister to the Indians. Like Brainerd, our lives have seasons as well. There is a time for everything. Today as you have opportunity, redeem the time that is before you and accomplish much for the Kingdom of God. I was recently reminded of how quickly our “season” can change with the accidental death of a dear friend at the age of 48 – my age! In a moment God can call us to Himself. In the twinkling of an eye our time “to plant or harvest, kill or heal, tear down or build up, laugh or cry, grieve or dance” will end. Yes, there is a time to be born, and a time to die.

Let’s be active in what God is doing and even see people put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ while we have opportunity. Let’s labor for Christ as long as we have breath. Ultimately, all of us will come to a final season, a season of death. We do not know the order or length of our seasons, but we can touch lives for the Gospel’s sake as we have this day! Remember one of our Christmas sayings, “Jesus is the reason for the … season!” Today, make Jesus Christ your reason for living! Trust Him and follow Him today. And never forget – He will forever be your reason for dying. Paul said, “For to me to live as Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21) Let’s make that our theme verse as well.

Until Next Week,

Dr. Derek