Evangelist Article
By TOM Palazzolo
I
remember a lecture I received
from a friend concerning the
danger of my riding a motorcycle.
He said it was even more irresponsible
of me to have my wife ride on
the back with me. He said I was
testing God by pursuing such a
dangerous activity.
I guess my response could have
been more conciliatory than what I
said back to him. I shrugged off his
concerns by telling him, “God has
my days numbered, and there’s not
much I can do to change that.
When my days are up, they are up.
So, if God wants to take me out
while I’m riding a motorcycle, I
can’t think of a better way to go.”
Now that’s an answer that would
satisfy another motorcycle enthusiast,
but it didn’t do much for this
“concerned citizen.”
Scripture supports my point of
view. God has appointed a time and
a place when each of us will leave
this earth and join Him in Heaven.
Job 14:5 (NLT), “You have decided
the length of our lives. You know
how many months we will live, and
we are not given a minute longer.”
That doesn’t give us a license to
do foolish and dangerous things, or
not to take precautions with our
health, safety, security, and wellbeing.
I am a strong proponent of
motorcycle safety training, protective
gear, and safe riding practices.
Even while I live in the knowledge
that God has our lives in His hands
and will see us through until He
calls us home.
I recall the verse in Psalms 90:12
(KJV), that instructs us, “So teach
us to number our days, that we
may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
The NLT says it just a little differently:
“Teach us to realize the
brevity of life, so that we may grow
in wisdom.”
And in verse 14: “Satisfy us each
morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of
our lives.”
We know our days are numbered,
so we need to make sure
we’re living them to the fullest. And
by fullest, I mean living for and
serving the Lord every moment of
every day. Live your days knowing
that you have a finite number of
days to accomplish the mission,
the ministry God has given you.
Psalm 39:4 (NLT), “LORD, remind
me how brief my time on earth will
be. Remind me that my days are
numbered—how fleeting my life is.”
Are you making the most of the
time God has given you as well as
of the circumstances you are in
right now? No matter what is happening
in the world around us, God
would have us make the most of
this time. Can you see this time as
an opportunity?
Remember, Paul wrote the
books of Philippians, Ephesians,
Colossians, and Philemon while in a
Roman prison. John wrote the book
of Revelation while incarcerated on
the Island of Patmos. Joseph grew
in maturity and character while a
slave and a prisoner in Egypt.
Moses emerged from 40 years in
exile in the desert to lead Israel to
the Promised Land.
While feeling constrained and
limited in circumstances beyond
their control, God never the less,
used that time to prepare these
faith heroes and many others to
accomplish great things during and
after their season of confinement
was ended.
So teach us, Oh Lord, to number
our days and to use our time wisely
and may all we do and say ultimately
honor God.
“So be careful how you live.
Don’t live like fools, but like those
who are wise. Make the most of
every opportunity in these evil
days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but
understand what the Lord wants
you to do. Don’t be drunk with
wine, because that will ruin your
life. Instead, be filled with the Holy
Spirit, singing psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs among yourselves,
and making music to the
Lord in your hearts. And give
thanks for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:15-20,
NLT). CMA
Tom and Kathie Palazzolo
oversee the West Region as
National Evangelist.
25⎪AUGUST 2020⎪www.cmausa.org