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A Message From Peter James
 

 


THIEF OF TIME 

      

 Probably the most precious commodity that we have is time.          

Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, we have exactly the same

number of hours in each day available to us.

The only thing that differs is how long we live.

It is not an accident that we use the same terms when referring to time

as we do to money. Here are just a few.

We say that we waste time and we waste money.

We say that we lost time and we lost money.

We say that we invest time in a project we invest money in a project.

We say that we save time and we save money.

 

We need to add to that incomplete list that:

Our money has been stolen and more importantly,

Our Time has been stolen. 

 

Our individual, supremely accurate preset clock is

relentlessly ticking our life away.

It is counting down the fleeting hours of our life whilst we busy

ourselves and fill our days with never ending,

often meaningless activity.

Most seem totally oblivious that we are all running out of time.

There is nothing we can do to stop the clock but we can certainly

choose to spend our time wisely and profitably.

Many of us have many clocks and several watches, however,

we do not know the time. We are admonished to know the time.

 

Romans 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now

it is high time to awake out of sleep:

for now is our salvation nearer than when we (first KJ21) believed.

 

BBE Colossians 4:5 Be wise in your behaviour to those who are outside,

making good use of the time.

 

Ephesians 5:15  See then that you walk circumspectly,

not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

The Strong's definition of 'redeeming' - Strong's No 1805

1)   to redeem

 

1a)  by payment of a price to recover from the power of another,       

     to ransom, buy off 

2)   to buy up, to buy up for one’s self, for one’s use

 

Interestingly it does not simply say to use the time.

The implication seems to be that someone else has claimed and even

owns your time and you have to exert great effort to buy it back in

order to regain it for your use.

 

It is easy to see that as this is such an important issue,

it comes under the most severe attack by the enemy.

He tries to steal our time from us at every opportunity.

 

Regardless of the country of residence, many of the people

to whom I speak say the same thing.

They tell me, and I see how very hard they are working and

that they have no time to do anything for themselves.

Their time and life has effectively been stolen.

Often they are worn to a frazzle and are right at their wits ends.

The problem is that the enemy has managed to systematically steal

their time and they are quite unaware of his schemes.

Christ came to give us life whilst Satan works diligently to lie, steal,

and to kill us..

 

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill,

and to destroy: I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

John 8:44  You are of your father the devil, and the lusts

of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.

When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

 

Satan is a liar, a thief and a murderer.

He is not a figment of the imagination.

We have to realise that this is reality and not just a

theological concept. This is his literal occupation.

In addition to these activities, he is constantly accusing us before God,

 

Revelation 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,

Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God,

                                                                          

and the power of his Christ:

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,

which accused them before our God day and night.

 

Many people presume life and quite incredibly appear to be totally

unaware of the brevity of life or its speed as it rushes past us. 

 

NKJV  Job 7:1 "Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth?

Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?                    

KJ21 Job 7:6  My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,

and are spent without hope.

7  "O remember that my life is wind; my eye shall no more see good.

8  The eye of him that has seen me shall see me no more;

Your eyes are upon me, and I am not.

9  As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away,

so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more.

 

The last part of verse 9 refers to the fact that the physical body

remains in the grave and knows nothing until the resurrection.

The spirit, however, returns to God who gave it in the first place.

We need therefore to use the time profitably as we cannot

in anyway add or detract from what we did up to the point

at which we die. The sad fact is that vast multitudes are going

through the motions of living while they simply are waiting to die.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth

as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

 

The spirit, however, according to the record of Lazarus

and the Rich man is fully aware of itself.

It is important to realise that this does not claim to be a parable.

See Then You Die.  

 

There are only two places in the Gospels that Christ uses the word fool.

The first refers to the person who is angry with his brother.

The second refers to the person who presumes life.

 

BBE Luke 12:20  But God said to him, You foolish one,

tonight I will take your soul from you, and who then will be the owner

of all the things which you have got together?

 

The words Foolish One is translated Fool in the Av and other versions.

Rotherham's translation says Simple One.

Young's Literal translation says Unthinking One.

 

This physical life does not go on forever. Everything that you are,

have, and own, can vanish in a moment. You can see this on the news

every day.People just like you, educated, hard working, professionals,

young and old, rich and poor or the simple and the ignorant are

brought to nothing in a flash. Everything they have worked for

diligently has been whisked away. Often many lose their lives as well.

Recently I was speaking to someone about the vanity of accumulating

wealth and presuming life.

 

There was someone listening whom I did not know.                    

He just kept nodding his head in agreement.

When I finished he said "I know exactly what you mean".

He had success. He had his millions. The volcanic eruption in Montserrat

had wiped it all out. He is one of a countless multitude.

 

James 4:14  Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow.

For what is your life? It is even a vapour,

that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

 

We need to understand that the enemy will use anything at all

to eliminate us. Of course he cannot do this outside of God's will.

Anything will be used, it can appear to be good or evil,

it does not matter.

We must never forget that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

was a single tree.

This one composite tree had just a single fruit. It was death.

 

Genesis 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,

you shall not eat of it:

for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.

 

Satan is far too clever and subtle to give simple straightforward

choices. The classic temptations do not work that way at all.

There is a mixture, and he also twists, perverts and misapplies

what has been said.

 

Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the

field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman,

Yea, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 

 

God had said the exact opposite

Genesis 3:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying,

Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat:

 

There was a single exception to what could be eaten.

The Eternal said the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

was not for food. That was quoted above in Genesis 2:17,

 

Genesis 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman,

You shall not surely die: (A Lie)

 

God had said the exact opposite

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you

shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof

you shall surely die.

 

Genesis 3:5  For God knows that in the day you eat thereof,

then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods,

knowing good and evil. (Truth)

 

Proof of this is

Genesis 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened

Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said,

Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:

 

Regarding the issue of time, you will often find a mix of reasons

which results in your time being stolen.

 

If you are employed, there will always be a very good reason

why you have to work late, to take work home, to skip lunch, etc.

Pressure at work often prevents the taking of holidays.

Strangely, often the reward for this diligence is that if you don't take

the holidays within the specified time you stand to lose them.

Your diligence and dedication is used to control and manipulate you.

Regardless of this you can be disposed off in an instant without any

consideration of lengthy loyal of service.

It does not matter if you are young or old.

 

Young people are put under gruelling schedules for assignments at school

and university that pushes them to breaking point, and many do break.

This all starts at a very young age.

The work of teachers continues long after they have left school as

they have to plan lessons and mark many books for excessively

large classes and for a variety of subjects.

Some of my teacher friends who had very senior positions have given

up teaching due to the excessive pressure.

Many schools are more concerned with statistics and results

than their pupils. Many subjects have absolutely no relevance to life

or even earning a living. The Latin I learnt has not helped me at all.

The Trigonometry and Algebra has not helped me to solve any

problems at all. The Religious instruction was sadly lacking.

The stark reality is that these things meant many wasted

years and effort.  

 

Our young people are forced to make choices and decisions

when they are not really equipped to do so.

Often they cannot do what they really want to do.

They endure courses of absolutely no interest to them.

      

For some this continues in higher education.                                   

The result is that some have to change college and university courses

after wasting a year or two doing some unsuitable course.

 

Many courses are filled with irrelevant mind numbing material.

A year of diligent and good work can be lost by a short exam of

a few hours because you had an off day, you did not feel well

or you were unfortunate and you or your tutor did not cover

the specific material sufficiently, if it was covered at all.

 

We are tied up in red tape with numerous complex and extensive

forms to complete. The number of forms that policemen and others

have to complete to record even the simplest events make it easier

not to record it and to pretend that it did not happen.

Whilst you are doing these things you are also worried that there

is probably some rule or some law somewhere that you are breaking.

All of this wastes time and messes your mind up at the same time.

 

The truth is that many are used and abused in countless situations.

Many work in totally unsatisfactory conditions where their life is cut short

and in spite of the regulatory bodies injuries take place.

Both of these steal our time.

 

We need to keep firmly in mind that Satan is the god of this world.

The systems in place at this time are under his direction.

The Scofield Study bible notes puts it very well.

This is a very powerful and damning statement indeed.

We need to read and inwardly digest this.

If you try to go against the system the authorities will resort to armed

force. We see this even in countries viewed as democratic.

 

'Satan has organised the world of unbelieving mankind upon his

cosmic principles of force, greed, selfishness, ambition, and pleasure.

This world-system is imposing and powerful with armies and fleets;

is often outwardly religious, scientific, cultured, and elegant;

but, seething with national and commercial rivalries and ambitions,

is upheld in any real crisis only by armed force,

and is dominated by Satanic principles.'

 

Many think that when Christ returns, He is going to take what

we consider to be the best of this current world and build on it.

I am still utterly unconvinced that this will be the case.

Close and detailed examination of all aspects of our society leave

a great deal to be desired.

Inbuilt inequalities, corruption, and greed abound.

I feel that all of it will be swept away and replaced with a fair

and equitable system that will bless all people regardless of sex

or race and this will be from the ground up.

 

At present the foundation is faulty, therefore

the foundation has to be completely replaced by one of

Truth and Love, which of course is Christ.

 

Such a system does not exist anywhere today.

 

The present system is Satanic.

 

2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the

minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious

gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

In the temptations of Christ, Satan offered him that which

he had authority to give. Christ never said that they were not his to give.

 

Matthew 4:8  Again, the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain,

and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

 

9  And said unto him, All these things will I give thee,

if you will fall down and worship me.

 

Once we understand this, the confusion and destructiveness of the world's

systems becomes clearer to us.

 

Some of the pressures which are brought to bear on us to steal

our time are as follows.

 

1.     Fear.

Fear of losing your job, how would you live?

How would you support yourself and/or the family

and pay the mortgage and the bills or simply eat?

You are fully aware that there are many people who

are waiting to snap up your job if you step out of line. 

 

2.     Guilt.

If you do not do this or that, other people will suffer.

       It will not be fair on your work colleagues.

       Even if you are feeling really ill with a blinding headache

you still turn up for work.

 

3.     Business

Business and the world revolves around making money.

       To be behind in your work, or to be sick can mean that

the company will lose money.

The casualty of cost cutting is people.

You hear of machines and computers replacing people. 

It is rare indeed to hear the reverse.

This means more work with less people.

Again your time is stolen.

Therefore come hell or high water you will drive yourself

even to the point of a nervous breakdown or other serious illness.

The reality is that probably the firm will be there

long after you are gone. Most times someone else is getting rich

at your expense. Fewer and fewer people are being used to do

more and more, so you have more and more responsibility.

       Each person is a very necessary cog in a huge wheel.

       A wheel with a cog missing does not function properly.

       The first casualty in mergers, restructuring,

down sizing etc., is staff.

                                                                    

Time and again what is needed is more staff.

It is always people who suffer. Past diligence, dedication and

loyalty do not mean you will survive.

       Often the whole business shuts down.

 

4.     Capability   

You feel that you have to be seen to be on top of your job.

       Often Computer systems and the like need nursing like a

           sick child. They are forever changing and breaking down.

As soon as you think you understand something, It is all change

and you are on a never ending treadmill, ever learning but never

fully knowing. You are working harder and harder,

getting more and more frustrated with each passing day

to the point of making yourself ill.

 

5.     Keeping up with the Jones'

       Many parents are working themselves into an early grave

as they try to fulfil the never ending desires of their children

who try to keep up with their peers by having designer clothes,

trainers, mobile phones, the latest computer games etc.

Sadly many parents themselves fall victim to this themselves as

they try to keep up with their neighbours. The difference is that

the things desired are bigger. We want a bigger and better

television set, stereo, a bigger car, a bigger house and on and

on it goes as we dig ourselves into a huge hole of debt from which

we cannot extricate ourselves. We ignore the advice of the bible

which warns us against comparing ourselves with others

 

2 Corinthians 10:12  Not that we venture to class or compare

ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when

they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves

with one another, they are without understanding.

 

6.     Multiple jobs

Sometimes to manage, often in the case of absent fathers,

some have several jobs and work countless hours in order to

survive. I fully appreciate that this terrible bondage exists

and I accept that there is no easy answer.

However, if we put God first we have the assurance that

with God all things are possible, these are Christ's own words.

I have no solution but I am assured that Christ has.

 

Mark 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe,

all things are possible to him that believes.

 

There is no hole  so deep that Christ cannot pull you out of it.

There is no night so dark that Christ cannot find and rescue you.

There is no situation so hopeless that Christ cannot turn it around.

                                                                 

Of course many do not fit into the above categories and these

categories are not exhaustive. Many will have vast

amounts of their time stolen away by entertainment.

The worldwide entertainment industry which includes the news

and newspapers is a multi-billion pound industry in many nations.

I am not saying that entertainment is wrong,

but I am saying that it can take up an unacceptable amount of our

time without us realizing it.

 

I suppose that the number one culprit would be television.

 

7.     Television

       Disregarding the rubbish or the immoral programs that clog up

       our TV channels there are many very good, interesting and

       informative programs. However, repeatedly, when we should be

       sleeping to recuperate from the hardship of the day, instead we

       find ourselves falling asleep in front of an interesting documentary

       or movie or some boring program. Most people who claim that they

       rarely watch Television, still spend more time watching Television

       by watching the news and the occasional documentary than they do

       reading their bible or praying. The scheduling of TV programs is no

       accident. They are carefully designed to hold specific viewers,

      which means you.

 

8.     Videos

There is so much that we would want to see on TV,

most times we can set up the video to record that which

we have missed. It is possible to have a backlog of things to watch.

Additionally there are the video stores to supplement

any shortage that might exist in our minds.

 

Ecclesiastes 1:8  All things are full of labour; man cannot

utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear

filled with hearing. It is clear that our eyes will always want

to see more of whatever it is we want to watch. We cannot

see enough of it.

 

9.     The pride of life.

Most sin falls into three categories.

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh, and

the lust of the eyes, and 

the pride of life,

is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 

This verse exposes the direction and the focus of the attacks

against us. As we have been warned, we can prepare for them.

The first two points are self-explanatory.

We must recognise the importance of the third point,                                                                                

the pride of life,

if we humble ourselves it would save us much wasted time.

It is neither a sin nor a crime to acknowledge that you do not

know. Advice that will save you much time and heartache can come

from a place or a person other than you would wish or expect.  

 

10.   Computers. 

Computers which are of course very useful

are also a prime time waster.   

       There are countless games that can be played by yourself

or with others over the internet.

       You can spend your entire life learning to use computer programs

that you will never use profitably.

As soon as you think that you have mastered whatever it is,

a new version is released and you start all over again.

Regularly these newer versions have more problems associated with

them than the older version to which you were accustomed.

       Machines are forever 'crashing' or as the banks say 'are down'.

Attempting to get 'help' can also be a great time waster.

Frequently you do not get manuals.

Even with a manual you can never find what you want,

as you do no know what you are looking for in the first place.

The shear complexity of everything and

information overload overwhelms you.

You can spend endless hours surfing

the net learning or looking for all sorts of things.

       You can listen to radio and TV on your computer.

       You can go into computer 'chat rooms' and speak endlessly with

       others anywhere in the world about any pet topic you wish.

As a sick alternative, you can mess up your mind with the most

gross pornography any time of the day or night for as long as

you like in the privacy of your home.

 

11.   Sport

       There is nothing wrong with sporting activity, however,

we can spend excessive amounts of time actively indulging in it,

or alternatively as armchair sportsmen. If we don't feel energetic

we can passively partake as we soak up the action on TV.

 

12.   Delegating Duties

Failure to delegate at home and at work.

Regularly we refuse to delegate because we could do whatever the

job is quicker and better than someone else.

For example parents cannot bear the long time that it takes

children to do the washing up, or some other chore,

therefore they do it themselves.

The same applies to work.

 

Due to slip shod and careless work many prefer to do jobs

themselves as they would have to do it over in any case.

Any time spent doing work that someone else should be doing

is to have your time stolen from you.

                                                                            

12.   The Past

If you cling on to the past and never let go of it,

       the past will become your future.

       Meanwhile there is no present as you are living in the past.

The present, your time, has effectively been stolen from you.

 

13.   General confusion 

Systems in operation simply force you to waste

       time and you have absolutely no control over them.

       Countless hours are spent waiting in traffic,

waiting for buses, trains or planes.

       Telephone calls that were straightforward and took a few minutes

are no longer the same as you have to deal with machines and

call centres who have no idea about what you are speaking.

You listen to countless options and buttons to press.

Lo and behold when all that is finished

there was not one to suit your needs.

So you go over the process. Confused you wonder what to do next.

You make appointments for the gas man, the electrician etc.

You take time off from work, these workmen never arrive on time,

if they arrive at all.  

 

14.   Meetings.

       Many meetings are the greatest time wasting events imaginable

and often they achieve very little if anything.

We even have meetings about having meetings.

 

15.   Liberty taking.

       There is no question that we should help others and not

       live selfish lives, however, time and again others organise

and allocate your time for you and take you for granted.

       Of course we should be devoted to our immediate and extended

       family and even friends but very often some family members

and friends plan their lives around using the time and life

of the other family members or friends.

This is an effective thief of time.

We should remember that everyone is entitled to a life.    

 

We have seen several categories of where and how our time

is stolen from us and the list is by no means conclusive.

 

Some situations are totally outside our control but affect

us greatly none the less.

 

What can we do ?

                                                                             

A)    Seek first the kingdom and everything else will fall into place.

I am not saying that all problems will vanish in and instant.

We must never forget that it took a long time, diligence and

hard work, to get into the state we now find ourselves.

It is reasonable to expect that a reversal of the situation will

also take time. The Eternal will do what is best for you

in His sovereign will. This will most probably not be in the way

nor in the time frame that you think at all.

 

Isaiah 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

This means that you will give God the priority in your life which

He demands.

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

B)     It is certainly profitable to pray that our time is not wasted

and that it is spent wisely.

 

C)     We need to pray to be delivered from addictions.

Although we may not realise it,

many things besides drugs are very addictive.

Television is one such thing.

You may be too tired to pray, study, eat or even sleep

but that state of tiredness can disappear the moment

a television program of interest appears regardless

of the hour of the night.

You have to ask yourself what is going on ?

 

D)    It is also prudent where possible to have a plan B to utilise

       the time that might otherwise be wasted.

      

You can always pray and give thanks for your life etc.

 

E)     We must teach our children to respect the time of others.

 

Most acknowledge that we are living in the end times.

       

Luke 12:56  Ye hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky

and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time?

 

It is therefore imperative that we have the right priorities

in our lives. How we get through these times will not be dependant

on our education, our possessions, our status in society, our jobs,

our fine homes, our wealth etc.                                           

It will depend simply on one thing.

How did we spend our time? 

We have to ask, whose will are we carrying out ?

 

We are accountable much more that we realise .

Matthew 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word

that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

 

This verse is followed by several verses that have even

been made popular in song.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1  To every thing there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 

These verses list many activities that human beings do.

Unfortunately this is all we seem to do.

There is no mention of praying and seeking God.

This, however, needs to be our focus and priority.

 

There are scriptures which make it clear that there will come

a day when we will seek the Lord and we will not find Him.

While we continue our frantic lifestyles we have no time for God.

We are just far too busy living and surviving maybe

even, 'enjoying ourselves'.

 

However, there will come a day when only activity

which can withstand the fire, and is pure Gold, will survive.

 

1 Corinthians 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

1 Corinthians 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

 

Works are the result of how we spend our time.

Our works will be utterly tested to prove their

worth or worthlessness.

When the crisis comes, and it is inevitable, we do not want

to found saying 'if only we listened, and spent the time wisely'.

 

The prophet Jeremiah was told to say these words to the men of

Judah and Jerusalem, but they are a solemn warning for

all people of every age. The righteous Jeremiah was told

not to pray for the people, as God said that He would not hear.

                                                                          

It is time to awaken from our slumber as the day is far gone.

 

Jeremiah 11:12  Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants

of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer

incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.

14  Therefore pray not thou for this people,

neither lift up a cry or prayer for them:

 

for I will not hear them in the time that they cry

unto me for their trouble.

 

Time exceedingly precious.

 

Psalms 32:6  For this shall every one that is godly pray unto you

in a time when you may be found: surely in the floods of great waters

they shall not come nigh unto him.

 

Isaiah 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,

call ye upon him while he is near:

 

Psalms 37:39  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD:

He is their strength in the time of trouble.

 

Psalms 69:13  But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD,

in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of your mercy

hear me, in the truth of your salvation.

 

Christians be warned to be saved and to be a believer is not enough.

 

Peter 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at

the house of God: and if it first begin at us,

what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

 

I pray that we will all treasure our time dearly and spent it wisely.

 

The only way out of this dilemma is Jesus Christ.

         He is the only way of escape.

                 Praise the Lord.

          Come soon Lord Jesus.

                         Amen.

    

 

 

 Messages By Peter James

(Bible Explanations, Messages of Life, Hope & Encouragement)