Growing up, I believe we learned to tell time while in the second or third grade. Reading the clock is one of those things you just don’t forget, no matter how much time has passed. Just as we can tell time in the natural, as Christians, we should also be able to tell time in the spirit. There are a lot of things happening in our communities and across the nations today. And some of them seem unfair, but if we are in tuned with the word/spirit we would not be struck with amazement. According to the bible there are certain things that must happen in the last days and we cannot change them. But we, somehow, fail to factor in  these perilous events happening to us. For some strange reason we only think they will happen to someone else; someone across town or across the country, but not in our house. Jesus is coming soon his appearing is closer than we think. People have been saying it for years, but I believe the day is quickly approaching. Telling time is crucial in this season and I see people who are acting as though we are going to be here forever. Scripture tells us that we are strangers passing through; this is only a temporary stay. And we need to know that our departure/rapture is around the corner. Folks have gotten too comfortable here, fallen for the trick and forgotten our life is not our own. We are here with a purpose and do not have forever to fulfill it. [Jeremiah 29:11, Deuteronomy 8:18, Ephesians 2:10] 

In Luke 12:54-56 it lets us know that Jesus had a problem with those who could discern the weather and it come to pass but could not discern the time we’re in. He said, “You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?” Hypocrites is what He called them. 2 Timothy 3:1-9 gives us some good indicators of how we can discern the times “… in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses….men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.” If we take heed to these verses we cannot misinterpret the time.

Have you ever been doing something and lost track of the time? Unbeknownst, became caught in a zone? As time is drawing near, this is one of Satan’s strategies. He wants us to get caught up in non-sense and loose track of time. Our adversary, the devil, is using every distraction he can. Those things that keep us from giving our full attention to Christ are the things he’s using to get us off track. Our children, jobs, money or the lack thereof, relationships, offense, attacks against our bodies are all distractions. Revelation 12:12 tell us he has come down having great wrath knowing his time is short. Satan has turned up the heat against us because he knows how to tell time. He was thrown out of heaven and wants to take as many of us down with him as possible. He is mad. It is so critical that we remain steadfast and unmovable. Trying our best to stay focused and determined to keep it moving forward with and for the Lord. 

Sometimes it is hard to tell time when things are blocking your view. That’s the time to get help. Thank God for our helper, the Holy Spirit, our allos parakletos. Along with the Holy Spirit, Jesus gave us some natural people to help us. Ephesians 4:8-14 says “Jesus gave gifts to men. Some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” In these last days no one has to be deceived or a lone ranger, it’s time to grow up because we cannot do God’s will alone. The Father has made provision and put leaders in place for us to learn from and to be examples before us. If you cannot tell time follow some one who can.

Have you ever started a project or an assignment and at the beginning you were working at a steady pace with no sense of urgency,  but the closer the deadline approaches your momentum picks up. This is how we should be concerning the Lord’s work, moving with a sense of urgency. Hebrews 10:25 tell us we should encourage one another all the more as you see the day drawing near. We should be helping and encouraging each other to finish their assignment because we are one body. The same approval we desire from our superior when we complete our assignment at the job, we should be even the more desiring the approval of the Father. To hear Him say, “Well done thy good and faithful servant…” Hebrews 4:1 tells us to fear coming up short of God’s promise. Coming up short is not going to fly with the boss, and it’s not going to fly with God either. It seems as though there is no fear of not finishing our heavenly assignment. It is amazing how people fear man more than God. The bible tells us in everything we do; we should do it as unto the Lord, natural and spiritual. Do not fear those who kill the body…but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28, Ephesians 6:5-8)

I know we are free moral agents and we think we can do what we want to do and it be accepted but unless you are a person who likes to be wasteful I don’t recommend that route. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 says Jesus is the foundation in which we should build everything and be careful how we build upon Him. We can’t and won’t use just anything to build upon Jesus. Just because people accept our work, does not mean God accepts it. That’s why it is called an offering; offers can be accepted or rejected. One day our works will be tried whether it is of gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw. The works that remains will receive a reward but if not it will be burned.

People of God, let’s open our eyes and put the pedal to the metal concerning the Father’s business. We know what time it is and what we have got to do. Luke 21:25-28 “…..men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world…But when these things begin to take place look up and lift up our heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” In all this darkness, I tell you what time it is, it’s time for the church to arise and shine. In Jesus Name.

Lady Ford