On October 27, 1964 an actor named Ronald Reagan delivered a televised speech in support of the Republican Presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater.  He entitled his speech, “A Time For Choosing,” and in it he laid out the stark contrasts between the views and policies of the conservative Goldwater and the liberal, incumbent, Lyndon B. Johnson.  This speech is widely credited with being the catalyst that propelled Reagan to a successful political career, first as governor of California, and later as President of the United States.

We often think of times of choosing as arising at critical moments in our lives.  Whether it is the choice of a vocational path, or an educational goal, or one’s life mate, we understand that there are times when we must choose one thing over another in order to proceed.  In some cases, our choices are little more than a matter of preference.  On the other hand, however, there are times when our choices have consequences that can affect the remainder of our lives.

One such instance occurred when Joshua was preparing Israel to live in the Promised Land.  He had led them through five years of conquest, during which time they had driven most of the Canaanite peoples from the land.  Now, as his own life neared its end, Joshua called Israel together for a final exhortation.  In Josh. 24:14-15 he said, “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

For Israel it was a time for choosing.  They had been given a bountiful land in which to live.  It was a good land with cities and vineyards and flowing rivers and abundant rain.  They had received it by the hand of God, who had defeated all their enemies.  Now, as they settled into their inheritance, they must choose if they would remain faithful to the God who had given them this land.  Their history shows that sometimes they chose to follow God and other times they chose not to.  Their fortunes reflected their choices right up to the time in which they were taken away into captivity.

Joshua called upon Israel to make a choice that day, as he spoke to them.  In truth, however, they had to make that choice each and every day of their lives.  This is a principle that remains as true today as it was then.  In Heb. 11:6 the scripture says that without faith it is impossible to please God.  In Mt. 7:21 Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”  In Rev. 2:10 the Lord said, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

So then, we also face a time for choosing.  We must choose to believe in God and obey His will, or to go another way.  One choice leads to eternal life, but the other leads to destruction, as the Lord said in Mt. 7:13-14.  How we choose affects how our lives play out here on the earth, for those who pursue godliness receive benefits here and now for doing so (1 Tim. 4:8).  The greatest benefit, of course, is eternal life in the place being prepared in heaven for the faithful (Jn. 14:1-4).  Until the Lord returns, it is a time for choosing.  What will you choose?

Social media affords individuals the opportunity to express their opinions on everything from the ridiculous to the sublime.  Some of these opinions are profane.  Some are mean and hurtful.  Some are just plain stupid.  Others demonstrate an obvious lack of understanding about the subject under consideration.  One comment that falls into this latter category was a reaction to a worship assembly that one person had attended.  The comment was, “A great worship show!”  It was accompanied by a picture which showed a praise band performing on a stage bathed in multi-colored spot lights while the audience was in darkness.

For many professed believers today, this is exactly what worship has become.  It is a stage show in which the audience members are spectators as professional musicians and singers belt out rock-like tunes in praise to God.  If a video of such worship were shown without the sound, it would be nearly impossible to distinguish it from a secular rock concert.  The audience may clap and sing along, and some may even dance in the aisles as the music plays, and at the end of each piece, the arena (sorry, sanctuary), erupts in applause.  At the conclusion of the event everyone goes away with the same feelings of exhilaration that one would experience at a secular show.

Obviously this kind of event appeals to a wide spectrum of modern society, but is this what worship is supposed to be?  Many people think the very idea of asking such a question is absurd.  The prevailing attitude seems to be that whatever we want to do in worship to God will be just fine with Him.  However, even a cursory look at the scriptures shows otherwise.

All throughout the Old Testament God was very explicit in how His people were to worship Him.  He never left them to their own devices in deciding how to worship.  He always told them exactly what He would and would not accept from them.  The classic example of this is Nadab and Abihu in Lev. 10:1-2.  The scripture says that they offered strange fire before the Lord, “which He had not commanded them.”  As a result, God sent fire from heaven to consume them.  The point is that God only accepts worship that is offered in the manner He commands.

In the New Testament, the summary statement of God’s will about worship is made by Jesus in Jn. 4:24.  Speaking to the woman at the well in Samaria, the Lord said, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  This is a general statement that covers both our attitude as we worship, as well as the things we do in worship.  Our worship must be sincere, but it must also be what God has commanded.

Our understanding of New Testament worship is a composite of a number of statements and examples.  We worship on the first day of the week (Sunday), because this is when first century Christians met (Acts 20:7).  We sing and make melody with our hearts, as they did (Eph. 5:15-21).  We eat the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), give of our means (1 Cor. 16:1-2), pray, and proclaim God’s word (Acts 2:42).  All these things were done by the early Christians in a simple and reverent way, as befitting those coming into the presence of Almighty God.

This is the point that is lost on many modern worshipers.  God is the object of our worship, not the people in the pews.  Our joy and fulfillment in worship should come from having offered acceptable worship to God, rather than from having been entertained or moved by someone’s performance.  We don’t assemble to put on a great worship show.  We assemble to show our love for God by doing what He has commanded us to do.

In 2001 a new television series called, 24, premiered on the Fox network.  The series revolved around a fictional counter-terrorism unit based in Los Angeles, and featured agent Jack Bauer in the lead role.  The premise behind the series was that each season constituted 24 hours, in which Jack Bauer and his organization thwarted some major terrorist act.  Each episode reflected one hour in the 24-hour period and used a digital clock display to keep viewers apprised of the elapsed time.  Because it was a work of fiction, the characters were always able to do things in much less time than in real life, like driving across Los Angeles in a matter of minutes instead of the hours it normally takes.

The concept of time is one of the few aspects of life that is equally distributed among all people.  Each day we live we have 24 hours at our disposal.  It doesn’t matter how rich or poor, how young or old, how well or infirmed, or where in the world one lives, we all have the same amount of time each day.  What separates us from one another in this regard is how we make use of that time.

In Eph. 5:15-16 Paul said, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”  We often think of the 21st century as being unique with respect to the demands that are made on our time, but Paul’s words suggest that this is not the case.  Even in the first century, it seems, time was at a premium.  The fact is that in every age of mankind, and in every place and culture, there have been, and will continue to be, elements that can and do try to occupy our time.

Some of these things are essential to life.  For example, we recognize the necessity of working to earn a living.  We cannot take care of ourselves or our families if we refuse to work.  In the same way, eating and sleeping are an important part of each day.  Although some might balk at this, learning and study are also pursuits that have a positive effect on our lives.  So, also, do recreation and exercise.

Our problems arise when we allow some things to occupy too much of our time to the detriment of more important things.  In our day and time the most visible culprits in this regard are electronic devices.  Wherever we go most people have their attention focused solely on their smart phones or tablets.  Even at home we are immersed in web surfing or gaming on our computers and other devices.  Most responsible people agree that we are spending too much time in these activities, and not enough time on more important pursuits.

This is especially the case in spiritual matters.  If we were to compare the amount of time we spend in spiritual-growth activities with our other interests, we would find that spiritual things get by far the lesser amount of our attention.  If all a person does is attend a Sunday morning Bible class, two Sunday worship assemblies, and a mid-week Bible study or prayer meeting, he will have spent only about four hours out of the 168 hours that week on spiritual things.  If that person is not engaged in personal Bible reading and study at home, and is not engaged in personal prayer, or in conversation about spiritual things with other believers, he is starving his soul of its sustenance.

Of all the things to which we give our time, many are important and ought not to be neglected.  Other things are not as important and should occupy an amount of our time proportionate to their importance.  But, none of these things should take up so much of our time that we do not give adequate time to our spiritual needs.  We have 24 hours each day we live.  We must make the best use of that time in order to prepare our souls for eternity.

How are you going to use the 24 hours at your disposal today?

In 1962 a record was released entitled, “Old Rivers.”  Walter Brennan, a famous character actor of that time, recited the words with a choir singing in the refrain in the background.  The song was about Old Rivers, an elderly farmer whose life was being remembered by a man who had spent his childhood following him as he worked in his fields.  The refrain of the song spoke of Old Rivers’ desire to depart and be with the Lord.  It began with the words, “One of these days, I’m gonna climb that mountain, walk up there among them clouds.”

The phrase “one of these days” is a statement of a wish that is hoped for, but without any definitive schedule attached to it.  In the song, Old Rivers knew that one day he would pass on to the other side, but he did not know when he would make that trip.  This is why he said, “One of these days, I’m gonna climb that mountain.”  He could not mark a date on the calendar for his passing.  All he could do was acknowledge the fact that one day he would.

We often use this phrase in a slightly different manner.  We may tell a friend, “One of these days, we’ll do this or that.”  When we say this, we may fully intend for that thing to happen, but we do not set a specific time to do it.  In such cases the occasion may never come about because neither friend ever schedules it.  In other instances, we may say this to be polite and to appear friendly, when we actually do not intend to make it happen.  It is a way to deflect making a commitment without appearing to be unkind.

We also use this phrase sometimes with regard to our obedience to the gospel, and to our faithfulness to the Lord.  One who is not a Christian may say, “One of these days, I’ll start coming to church, and I’ll get my life right with God.”  A wayward Christian may make the same statement when he is urged to renew the practice of his faith.  We have no way of knowing if this is a true statement of that person’s intent, or if it is just a polite way of saying, “No, thank you,” to the Lord.

Even if we were to take such a statement at face value, we cannot allow it to go without noting an important consideration.  “One of these days” is an ambiguity.  It is a dangerous balm to salve one’s conscience about any subject that he actually wants to avoid.  “One of these days” cannot be found on any calendar, and thus postpones the action that might resolve whatever issue is under discussion.  Whether it is health issues or exercise, pursuit of some educational or vocational goal, or following through on one’s commitment to the Lord, “One of these days” just kicks the can down the road.

“One of these days”, however, plays right into the devil’s hands.  It has been said that one of the devil’s greatest lies is that we have plenty of time to get right with God.  If he can convince us to wait until “One of these days”, he knows that we will very likely never follow through with our obedience to the Lord.  The reason why this is so is because we have no guarantees that “One of these days” will ever come.  In Jas. 4:14 James warned that our life is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.  We never know when our life will end, so we can’t wait for “One of these days.”  Likewise, in Mt. 24:36 Jesus warned that no one knows the day or hour of His return for judgment, so we can’t wait for “One of these days” because we don’t know when the Lord will return.

This is why Paul said, “Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).  Our only guarantee is this moment, and this breath we take.  To put off obedience in the hopes of some future opportunity is to court eternal condemnation.  To wait for “One of these days” is to play Russian roulette with one’s soul.  Make today your “One of these days” and get right with the Lord in obedience to His word.

The story is told of a wealthy man who died and appeared at the pearly gates.  An angel met him to escort him to the place where he would live for eternity.  As they walked along the man was overwhelmed by the beauty of the golden streets and the incredible mansions that lined it.  “Surely one of these is mine,” he thought, but the angel just kept walking.  Soon he noticed that the streets were no longer gold, and the houses were smaller, but still very nice.  He again thought that one of these must be his heavenly home, but the angel continued walking.  Finally, they came to a dirt path.  The angel led the man down the dirt path and stopped in front of a dilapidated shack.  “Here is your home,” the angel said, and turned to leave.  The man began to protest, saying that there must be some mistake.  How could he be assigned to such a poor dwelling place when they had bypassed so many fine mansions and houses?  The angel quietly replied, “Sir, we did the best we could with what you sent ahead.”

This little story helps us visualize an important spiritual principle, but like many human illustrations it misses the mark in one aspect.  The idea of there being mansions in heaven comes from a mistranslation in the King James Version of Jn. 14:2.  The Greek text says there are many rooms in the Father’s house.  The King James translators, working from the Latin Vulgate translation, mistook the Latin term, mansio, which means a place where someone stays, for mansion, a place where a lord lived.  This was never the intent of the Lord’s words in Jn. 14, and for this reason we should not expect to live in a mansion in heaven.  However, the idea of sending something ahead is a valid point, for the Lord Himself exhorted us to do so.

In Mt. 6:19-21 the Lord said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  We understand that the Lord was not talking about sending physical building supplies ahead for one’s eternal comfort.  Instead, He was talking about one’s priorities and focus in life.  This point is made clear in v. 24 where the Lord said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth.”

The context for these remarks is the Sermon on the Mount, and in particular the Lord’s discussion of mankind’s preoccupation with the necessities of life.  Even in the first century people were so focused on making a living that they were tempted to neglect their responsibility toward God.  The Lord’s message on that occasion was to put God first in their lives, and then all these things would be added to them (Mt. 6:33).  This is not only the divine prescription to alleviate worry in life, but is also the way in which we store up treasures in heaven.

The reason for the Lord’s concern is seen in His statement that where our treasure is, our heart will be there also.  This is a fundamental truth that transcends time and culture.  Our treasure is those things on which we place the greatest value.  If we place greater value on the physical things of life, our focus is going to be limited to this earthly realm.  If, on the other hand, we place greater value on spiritual things, our focus will be on God and on His will.

The scriptures warn us that at the end of time the physical realm will be destroyed by fire (2 Pet. 3:10-13).  If our treasure is worldly things, it is going to be lost when the Lord returns.  However, if our treasure is in heaven, we will be among those who are welcomed into the heavenly city at the end of time to live with the Lord forever.  There is no greater treasure than this.

So then, where is your treasure?