One More Month
As I write this article, it remains November, making only thirty-three more days on the calendar of 2025, if the Lord wills. While the season is customarily one of joy, happiness, and gaiety, some have experienced tremendous sadness, darkening the otherwise pleasant aspects of the season. I learned of two souls who died on or near the day of Thanksgiving. Their families will not soon forget, and the memory of that sadness will repeat itself whenever that date occurs. Others noticed vacant seats at their tables because death took their loved one earlier this year. Still others continue to suffer with lingering illnesses, sustained injuries, hardships resulting from actions beyond their control, and other assorted maladies that make the contents of 2025 less than appreciated in their minds.
Yet, God has richly blessed us in ways far beyond our merit! Too often, we credit man for the arrival of unexpected benefits, when the reality of the matter is that GOD should receive the honor and praise! Marriages, the birth of children, the improvements of health, the release from tribulations, and many other blessings are not the making of mankind alone; they are the blessings of God upon those who recognize “every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) Added to this list are the spiritual blessings that far exceed all the material blessings combined! Spiritual blessings include but are not limited to the increase of faith from reading and studying God’s word (Romans 10:17), the strengthening of our faith from the sharing in fellowship with those of like precious faith (Jude 20-21; 2 Peter 1:1), the joy of being taught and admonished with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16), the comfort from praying one for another (James 5:16), the sharing of our burdens, (Galatians 6:2), the happiness of being knitted together in fervent love (1 Peter 1:22-23). Most is the spiritual blessing of being in Christ (Galatians 2:20), from which come all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).
We humans tend to become strongly attached to the blessings of this world. While here, Solomon’s study of life and its contents found “vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (book of Ecclesiastes). Yet, he also tells us, “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For God giveth to a man that is good in His sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner He giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (2:24-26)
Thus, time is only a segment of the blessings we receive from God. Within time are opportunities for us “to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (cf. Hebrews 13:16). How well are we using time? Are we eager to see it pass from our grasp, to waste it as though it is so freely given and abundant that we need not concern ourselves with its availability? Or do we recognize time is as precious a blessing as life itself, for time is indeed a measure of life! Do we value time/life, and do we prize it so highly that we protect its existence by carefully and precisely perfecting our life in the sight of God? (Colossians 3: 22-25)
For those who are procrastinators, the remaining days of 2025 (if the Lord wills we have them), will mean very little. These minds believe there will be “plenty of time,” “another day,” in which to complete some task they do not view as important. To them, these unimportant things include the salvation of their souls. Obedience to the gospel can wait (they have yet to repent of their sins, confess Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and be immersed into Christ for the remission of their sins), thinking their desires have some right to priority in their lives. Others think they have plenty of time to increase their faithfulness to God the Father, Christ His Son, and the church to which they claim “faithful standing.” Yet, these remain aloof to the reality that all time is in the control of God, not Man, and He has set the date and time of His Son’s return (Acts 17:31).
So, “one more month” has two extreme meanings: one of diligence and determination to serve God because, to these souls, eternity comes quickly (cf. Revelation 22:20). The other is of a nonchalant attitude, thinking gladness for the ending of one year and the beginning of a new one. These forget it is still if the Lord wills!
Which way do YOU consider the possible days left in 2025: as days you wish would quickly pass, or days by which you need to prepare? Perhaps the events of 2025 drastically altered your intentions for this year. But you adjusted, didn’t you? You found comfort when needed, help when needed, discipline when needed, friends when needed, etc. From Whom did that help come? (Hebrews 113:5-6) At the very least, we need to recognize our lives have been spared to this moment in time for a reason: either to grant us another opportunity to obey God’s word, or another opportunity to serve God because we have obeyed God’s word! Those are the only righteous views of time! So, to you, what does “one more month” really mean? How will you use it?