Time Flies, Remember Death

I’m a Knight of Columbus. One of our mottos is, “Time flies, remember death.” In eternity, there is no time, as we understand it on earth. There is just the ever-present now.

I’m a Knight of Columbus. One of our mottos is, “Time flies, remember death.” In eternity, there is no time, as we understand it on earth. There is just the ever-present now.

As we get on in years, we may come to realize how our concept of time can deceive us. We look back over the decades and are surprised by how quickly they have passed. We also remember that when we were young time seemed to pass much more slowly. Then, we believed that we had all the time in the world, and we probably did not heed too well the advice of our elders who told us that we should use our time well. Now, that we are middle aged or older, we are either reaping the benefits or paying the price for how we spent those years.

It’s amazing to me how many people say that they have no time for religion. They will spend hours watching television, chatting with their friends on Facebook or playing video games, but they will not give God even one hour a week. Aren’t they really saying that God is not worth their time? I know that many people are very busy with work and other serious commitments, but what could be more serious than where we will spend eternity? I believe that how we spend our time, especially our free time, really shows what is important to us.

In the book East of Eden, John Steinbeck wrote, “No one who is young is ever going to be old.” Along the same vein, a priest once told me, “People know they are going to die, but they don’t believe it.” Our time on earth will end with old age and/or death – and we’d better believe it!

One of the most effective strategies of the devil is quite simple: encourage people to fritter away their precious time in self-centered pleasure. If they feel guilty about their sins, assure them that they have plenty of time to get right with God. Encourage them to live by this motto, “Enjoy today, repent tomorrow.”

However, God does promise us forgiveness but He doesn’t promise us tomorrow. We can only repent today and we must try to remain in a state of grace every day if we want to be assured of our salvation.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17).