Time's Up... Pencils Down!

Ahhh, how I remember those words at the end of a timed test in school... racing the clock to recall all the knowledge that had been stuffed into my head during the previous semester. At the end of the allotted time you could hear pencils slamming on desks all over the room. Rightfully so. I mean... to have that amount of pressure finally reach an end, there's got to be a significant declaration, right? How prepared I was for the test determined how confident I felt at the dramatized releasing of the pencil. Whether I felt good or bad about it no longer mattered; it was now in the teacher's hands to determine if I got to move on or try again.

I was reading this verse the other day, and realized that life is a lot like these tests.

"Now, little children (believers, dear ones), remain in Him - with unwavering faith - so that when He appears at His return, we may have perfect confidence and not be ashamed and shrink away from Him at His coming." 1 John 2:28

Life is full of tests of our faith. Sometimes I pass with flying colors, sometimes I have to rely on God to grade with a curve, and sometimes, in His mercy and grace, I get to try again.

But at His return... the testing is over, for real. Pencils down. No more do-overs. I don't want to be ashamed and shrink away from Him at His coming!!

So now I'm thinking of the circumstances I let disrupt my faith... things that steal my peace, my joy... those times where I succumb to doubt. Picturing that as what's on my test paper when He returns, when every knee bows at His amazingness, like those pencils dramatically hitting the desk. Ugh... I get sick to my stomach!

Seriously, are you kidding me?? The petty, insignificant things I let distract me from my divine purpose of being His light to the world through faith in Him and love for others... uh, no. This can't happen. It's embarrassing! Can you just imagine...

Me: Hey Jesus... wow, You really do shine brightly! Um... here's my paper. I know You conquered death and paid an unimaginable price so that I could have a relationship with and direct access to God, live in victory, and display Your love and splendor to the world, but... I had this deadline coming up, and people weren't responding to my emails or phone calls, and I got frustrated and overwhelmed... I mean, you know how much debt I have and how I can't afford to go backwards in revenue! I know You said You're my provider, but... I guess I forgot or maybe didn't really believe You or something. I'm really sorry. Now that I see You, it's painfully clear how stupid that was. Any chance I can retake the test?

Friends, RETAKE TIME is NOW! ...in this moment and every moment until His return.

Speaking of His return, 2020 has caused many of us to consider the times and how it lines up with Biblical prophecy. I certainly don't claim to be a scholar in this, but I've heard some pretty convincing evidence pointing to His return being really close. I don't know how close, but I do know He's coming... and we're closer to it today than we were yesterday.

I want to be able to turn in my paper with confidence. It won't be perfect. It will show lots of eraser smudges, doodling in the margins, even some tear-stains... okay, lots of tear-stains. But you know what is going to be written in red, covering every good and bad, every right and wrong answer? JESUS. The blood of Jesus is what saves me on that day and everyday leading up to it.

Friends, we don't have to be perfect, but we do have to BELIEVE. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He came to this earth to offer Himself as a sacrifice for you and me, that He was raised from the dead and is now preparing a place for those who love Him and BELIEVE in Him.

The love and sacrifice of Jesus compels me to offer up my life... full of my failed attempts... to Him. He is the only One who can take all those ups and downs, failures and mistakes... all those test papers... and turn it into something beautiful... stamped with His name in red... His very own blood that was shed for you and me.

Friend, nothing is wasted... none of us is too far gone... there is no place so far that His arm can't reach.

What will be on your paper when time is called and pencils go down?

If you're a Believer, stand strong in your faith, building your life on His Word and promises, not the circumstances of this temporary life on earth. You're not alone!

If you want to say YES to Jesus, you can pray right now! "Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, that You came to earth to show us Your love and how to live, that You died on the cross for my sins, and that You rose from the dead and are now preparing a place for me. I want to live for You." If you don't have other Believers around you that you can reach out to, click here to connect with some people who love Jesus and want to help you!