It’s Later than You Think

With the New Year comes fireworks, champagne, and the purchase of an updated calendar.  The calendar industry reports sales in the billions with designs featuring comedy, landscapes, and of course swimsuit models.  You can choose a desktop or wall chart of days but you can’t choose to use the most accurate telling of time.  Historians agree that the calendar of today has been through so many changes that it is almost impossible to know exactly what year it is.

Most of the world uses the error-filled Gregorian calendar that was made popular by Pope Gregory XII.   This calendar shows the year to change on January 1.  Yet before this dateline, several countries celebrated the New Year at different times.  The Romans recognized March 1 while the Byzantine Empire held September 1 as the start of the year.  The Jewish people still change their calendar in mid-September.  

So, what time is it?  That question can be best answered  with one word… “later.”  Its later than we think. Time’s ticking and none of us have as much left as we’d like. This is why we are to “number our days so we apply our hearts to wisdom,” Psalm 90:12.  Notice the idea is to do more than just count as time passes. Our days are numbered.  We must realize that wisdom will make the difference between a life of trivial matters or a life that matters. Wise choices lead to abundant living, regardless of the day or year. So, how do you apply your heart to wisdom?  The search for that answer is the answer itself. Constantly seek wisdom and in the seeking, you will find everything you need.  Ask yourself throughout the day, “what is the wise choice?” and then follow that decision. 

Yesterday is history and the future may never come. Numbering today as possibly the first and last day of your life may be the wisest thing you could ever do. This is because each “today” can be lived to the fullest. Savor each second of the clock and make each moment memorable by seeking wisdom in all you do.