I really enjoy really enjoy reading these thoughts from Moments for You Tracts and I want to share them with you.

GOD’S TIME

“To every thing there is a season, a time to every purpose under the heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Because everything has a season, nothing (at least on earth) lasts forever. God has appointed a “season” for everything. Seasons have beginnings and endings. They last, but not too long. Solomon’s thesis is this: Every activity of mankind has a proper time and a predetermined duration. Our lives will be a lot less stressful if we recognize that the omniscient hand of God has appointed a time when things are to be done, and He has a predetermined duration for those things to last.

Everyone goes through good times and bad times; together they make up the seasons of your life. Make sure you don’t live for only the good times; when the bad times come, and they will, you won’t have the strength to handle them. And make sure you don’t let the bad time defeat you. If you do you’ll miss out on all the good times God still has in store for you. It takes both to make a life.

Why does Solomon say all these things about time? The answer is in verse 11: “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time.” At the appropriate point in time, God will make everything fit into the season of your life. It’s like the pieces of a puzzle, you struggle to piece things together, and then all of a sudden things just seen to fall into place. That’s what happens when you commit all your ways to God.

God will never be late and He’ll never be early. Furthermore, He knows the proper duration for that event. He never allows it to last too long nor cuts it off too short. When you live and die in the knowledge of God’s eternal plan, you live and die with confidence–God makes ALL things beautiful in their time.

Are you tired of everything in your life going wrong? Are you fed up with trying to make things in your life lovely and pleasant, only to turn out messy and hard and distasteful? Maybe you’ve gone the whole route. You’ve been though addictions of alcohol, drugs, and sex, you’ve been through climbing the ladder of success—and your life is still a colossal mess. But don’t give up yet. There is an answer. The answer is Jesus Christ in your life. It’s through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior that God can make your life beautiful, and He does it in His own time. Maybe this is God’s time for you.

—Woodrow Kroll, condensed

A CONVENIENT SEASON

As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” – Acts 24:25

Felix, a Roman governor, was interested in Paul and his message. He evidently knew a great deal about Jesus. He knew about his crucifixion. He knew that it was commonly reported that He had risen in triumph from the dead. He knew how the gospel was spreading through all that part of the world, and how it was reaching out even to distant lands. Undoubtedly deep in his heart he wondered whether Jesus was who He professed to be—the Son of the living God. But to step right out and accept Christ, to yield his heart to Christ, would mean facing the sin in which he was living.

We read that Paul “reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled” When Paul reasoned of righteousness, he must have brought before Felix the fact that he had no righteousness. And then he would not hesitate to witness to the fact that Felix, instead of living in self-control, was controlled by evil. Paul went on to tell of the judgement to come. “It is appointed unto me once to die, but after this the judgement” – Hebrews 9:27

Yet we do not read that Felix responded to Paul’s message. Undoubtedly, the memory of his sin rose up before him, and as he faced God about those sins, he was in trouble and distress. But there was no repentance. What folly it is to try to cover up and forget our sins! Remember, if unconfessed, God has never forgotten them. They are written in His books of record, and in His judgement day they will be manifested.

You may say, “I have violated God’s holy law, but is there no forgiveness?” Ah, yes there is! Paul must have put clearly before Felix the glorious message of the gospel. If the sinner is willing to come now into the presence of God and face his sins, he will not have to stand before God in judgement. Remember this: the first time a person comes into the presence of God, he must come with all his sins upon him. If the first time you meet God is the day of judgement, you will stand there with all your sins upon you, and you will hear His voice say, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” – Matthew 25:41

But, thank God, if you are ready to come to Him in repentance—repentance involves a complete change of attitude in regard to sin—if you are ready to come now, earnestly desiring the forgiveness of sins, there is forgiveness with Him. That mercy was offered to Felix, but he answered Paul saying, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

Let me ask you, reader, to face this question honestly. Are you saying as Felix did, “When I have a convenient season, then I’ll get right with God?” When do you think that more convenient season will arrive? When will it be easier to repent of your sins, to confess your need, and to trust in the Lord Jesus, than right now? Now is the time to get right with God. Believe God when He says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. – 2 Corinthians 6:2

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. – Romans 10:9-10

— Condensed from Acts by H.A. Ironside

REFUSE AND CHOOSE

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. – Hebrews 11:24-25

All of a sudden Moses turned his back upon what had claimed him, charmed him, and allured him. What was the reason? Scripture says, “By faith.” Faith is the principle that links the soul with God. It is that mighty principle which sees beyond the things of time, and looks right into eternity. I wish that you, too, would take a deep long look into eternity! For although you are here today, you cannot tell how soon you will be in eternity. It lies before you, just as Moses knew it lay before him.

Moses was able to give up the present, in view of the future. By faith he laid hold on that which was revealed to his soul—the things of God and of eternity. By faith he refused that which was unsatisfactory. By faith he chose to keep company with the children of God. He was not ashamed to be found among God’s people. The man who suffers for Christ has no need to be ashamed. The early disciples rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name” – Acts 5:41

The lost sinner has more than enough shame headed his way. He may have the pleasures of sin in this life, but the pains, penalties, and consequences of sin will be for eternity. Sin is a terrible thing. It separated man from God at the beginning, and if sin is not dealt with it will separate him from God forever. The person who chooses the pleasures of sin rather than God’s pleasures is not wise. The Psalmist said “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” – Psalm 16:11 Who may have them? You may have them right now, if through grace you are led to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is written that Jesus “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18 To me, the profound sufferings of the Savior are absolutely conclusive proof of the inevitable sufferings of the person who goes into eternity in their sins. Anyone who passes into eternity unsaved, unconverted, unforgiven, unbelieving state has made their choice with eyes wide open, for God has spoken plainly through His word and through His Son.

There was great energy in Moses’ faith. We read, “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” – Hebrews 11:27 Moses had his eyes on God. He knew God. The Christian knows God as his Father, and the Son of God as his Savior. The sinner who trusts in Jesus knows his sins are forgiven. “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” – Acts 10:43

Next we read about Moses, “By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.” – Hebrews 11:28 God has told Moses that the blood of the Passover lamb must be applied to each house in order to secure redemption, in order to be sheltered from the righteous judgement of God Exodus 12:13. You must imitate Moses if you want salvation. You must, by faith, put the blood of Jesus between your guilty soul and God. There must be a personal application of the truth. You must receive it for yourself. Will you receive it right now by turning to God and putting your trust in Jesus Christ? “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” – John 3:36

— W.T.P Wolston, condensed

VERONICA MONTOYA

Veronica is our guest relations director. Born and raised in New Mexico (so you know she loves green chile!). She enjoys cooking, laughing, and spending time with her husband, Gabriel, and four daughters (yes, four!), who all serve alongside her in the church.