There are few things in life that are certain. Things like money, fame, position, even spouse and children are not certainties of life.
Apart from God, certainties of life include: seedtime and harvest time, summer and winter, cold and heat, day and night. These have never failed. Today I’m speaking briefly on two constants: day and night.
Genesis 8:22
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Psalms 19:2-3
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
The inception of the ‘day’ of any man is ordained by God; the expiration of the ‘night’ is also determined by God.
Some have longer days and shorter nights. E.g Joseph (Gen. 50: 22-26).
Some have shorter days and long nights. E.g Solomon (Eccles. 1:17-18).
Some might experience longer days and longer nights. E.g John the beloved (I John 2:1).
Somehow, some have been allotted shorter days and equally shorter nights. E.g Jesus (John 19:26-27).
Jesus knew He had short days to work with and so He did not joke with each day.
John 9:4
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
That is why He used the word ‘must’ rather than ‘ought’. The question I ask myself is why did Jesus had to go to the cross at 33 years? Why not at 70 years? The night cometh!
Jesus did not allow Himself to be distracted. He only had just 3 years to work with!
Interestingly, no matter how short the ‘day’ of a person is, his assignment can still be covered within those days.
Jesus completed His Divine assignment within 33 years. (John 17:4; John 19:30).
John 17:4
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 19:30
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
We all pray to live long. I sincerely pray for long life. I chose and pray for long days in life. However, it is what we do in space of the time we live that really matters and not how long. Unlike Jesus, we can not say categorically how long a time we have.
More importantly, no one will be able to defend himself before God that they did not have enough time to deliver or complete their assignment.
Methuselah had 969 years and what did he do? He only begat sons and daughters and then died. Stephen probably lived less than 40 years and the bible recorded the exploits he did for God.
The beginning of each day often start nice and cool, but when the heat of the day is on, many run to hide, hoping to come back to work when it’s cool again. Alas, shortly after the cool period, the night will come. May your night not come upon you unprepared in Jesus name.
We need the mentality of ‘must’ to accomplish our Divine assignment for our day. If your mentality is that of I should, or I ought, you may not utilise your day to the full.
What sort of ‘work’ are you doing in your day for God? How are you doing it? Are you doing it as a must or you are doing it as you like? One thing is sure, the night must come!
Prayers
Almighty Father, let my days be long
Almighty Father, help me to finish my work on earth
Almighty Father, do not let my night come upon me unaware
Exhortation delivered by Pastor Sam Obafaiye on Singles’ Day 23/12/12