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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Crocuses (photo by Doris High)
Crocus variety
Photo by Doris High


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"The Time of God's Favor"

"Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Photo of National Watch and Clock MuseumThe National Watch and Clock Museum is only about ten miles away in the small town of Columbia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the world premier institutions on the record of keeping time and hosts the School of Horology. Horology is the study of making timepieces or of measuring time (not to be confused with another word beginning with "horo").*

The museum has over 12,000 items related to timekeeping and the tour is quite daunting.  The collection is international in scope and covers a wide variety of clocks, watches, tools, and other time-related items. Chronologically, the exhibits take you on a tour through the entire history of timekeeping technology from early non-mechanical devices to today's atomic and radio-controlled clocks.

Photo of farewell plaqueKnowing the correct time is very important to modern life. Brooksyne always remembers to put her watch on but I can be quite forgetful in that matter. Thus when I need the right time I might scramble to find it but it's not too hard since cell phones display the time, also our computers, the radio, the microwave and just about every other electronic device that functions in our home.

I set our clocks and watches to a standard clock on the internet.  However in Biblical times people weren't as cognizant of the exact time as we are.  In describing time we find phrases like "watch in the night".  An hour did not mean a precise 60-minute unit of time, as ancient people neither had the means nor necessity to measure time that way.

Photo of M.R. De HaanDr. M.R. DeHaan, founder of the Radio Bible Class (which publishes "Our Daily Bread" devotional), once preached on God's judgment and the reality of hell. As he neared the end of his sermon, he stopped abruptly. For an entire minute he didn't say a word. All that could be heard was the ticking of a large clock on the wall. The sound seemed to grow louder with each passing second. In fact, the steady "tick-tock, tick-tock" became almost deafening to those under conviction by the Holy Spirit.

Then with his commanding voice he reminded the audience, "You are now one minute nearer to eternity!" One woman in the congregation that day admitted that she was frightened. And even though she didn't receive Christ that evening, the experience of hearing that ticking was so vivid in her mind that it ultimately led to her conversion.


Our busy, time-conscience lives can deter us from our most important appointment. Let us recognize and give thanks that we live in "the time of God's favor."  His offer of redemption is freely offered and through the apostle Paul He wisely counsels, "Now is the day of salvation."

Our appointment to receive Christ as our personal Savior is our most important appointment in life.  It begins by meeting God with an earnest heart and saying a prayer similar to this: "Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your salvation.  I place my faith in you and ask you to forgive me of my sins.  I make you the Lord of my life and will live seeking to please you."


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, how grateful we are that we live in the time of Your favor.  You favor us with Your goodness, love, and provisions.  But most of all You favor us with redemption through the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus paid the price and we are recipients of His love and forgiveness.  We give thanks for our salvation and we pray for anyone who has not made that divine appointment with You to make this the day of their salvation, for now is the time of Your favor and now is the day of their salvation.  Amen.

* Hora is the Greek word translated hour.



Today's Suggested Music
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"Now Is The Day Of Salvation"  Audio  2 Corinthians 6:2 from the Integrity Scripture Memory series.  (After opening page click on the "play" button)

The National Watch and Clock Museum
School of Horology

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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