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But you must not forget dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. (2 Peter 3:8 NLT)
It is a new day and a new year and new opportunity for us all to make a difference. It only takes one person doing one thing to change the world around them. As this scripture points out, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day to the Lord. Jesus spoke often about today. People talk about what a difference a day makes. There is a song that has a line that says it only takes a moment. So whether it is one thousand years, one day, one hour, one second, or one moment, if we are determined to be one who will make a difference this will be one wonderful year.
Last year ended on a tragic note as a Tsunami struck, and in only moments countless lives ended on this earth and entered eternity. Only God knows how many went to be with him and how many are spending eternity separated from God. We know that all the children are safe with Him, and so that makes for joyful thoughts. We know that there have been missionaries in that part of the world, so there have been opportunities for all to hear the good news of the gospel. That thought gives us hope that many who did not know Christ, may have called out to God as the thief on the cross and entered into the joy of the Lord in one last act of their lives. Oh how happy they must be. There have already been miraculous reports concerning what the Lord did to help many people and prayerfully that will inspire others to come to the Lord.
Even though the reports will continue of the tragedy and the miracles, the fact is that all of that was yesterday. Today we have the opportunity to determine that we will not miss one opportunity to grow closer to God, nor will we miss one opportunity to see someone else drawn into the Kingdom of God, perhaps by aiding the living victims of this tragedy.
That is why on this first opportunity to put words to paper or cyberspace for this New Year, I want to encourage everyone to make sure of your salvation and then say so. Scripture says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” (Psalm 107:2) We never know what wave may hit our lives. We live in a world where things happen suddenly and we do not know when we will meet the Lord, or what day He will suddenly return. We do however know how we can be ready for that day.
If we are ready for that day, we must also be stirred to see that others are ready as well. It only takes one moment, one word, one smile, one phone call, one email, one visit, or one what ever, to change your life and the lives of those around you. In 2nd Peter, the Holy Spirit reminds us that the Lord is coming back to earth again. It was God’s plan from the beginning. I am so thankful that He is patient, but one day the end will come. There will be silence in heaven, as though the magnitude of the long awaited day is just too great, and then there will be no more time. I pray that the Lord will show us daily what one thing we can do, and that we will do each one in His power for His glory.