Introduction: A song that was one of the first hits for the group Chicago begins, "Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody still care about time?" I assure you that I have recently become more caring about time—my time that I have left to live. I am only four and one –half years away from fifty and realizing that the chances of my owning a Harley are getting slim. There’s still time for a tattoo! When a man wakes up one morning and faces the reality that their life is more than half over they can do a lot of crazy things. Robbie Knievel decided at age 37 to jump the Grand Canyon on his motorcycle two weeks ago. He soared over the 200 foot wide gorge at 90 miles an hour. He made it with room to spare. If he had missed he would have fallen 2,500 feet to the canyon floor. The craziness that can come at mid-life isn’t necessary. God can help us by accepting the limits of our time and our life and to begin to see the unlimited opportunities we have before us.

Peter cared about time. Those to whom Peter wrote were experiencing times of hardship and suffering. They were wondering, "When will it end?". He began the verses we examine this morning with the reality of the end of time. Rather than focus on how little he or they have done with their life, he points them to a prescription of how to live when they know what time it is. His point and ours is when you understand the limits of time you see the unlimited opportunities of life!

Peter’s first words arrest us with their shock value: "The end of all things is at hand." It raises the question, "What did he mean?" There are a variety of solutions that are offered: (1) He was wrong! (2) He could mean the end of God’s plan for salvation; (3) It could mean a view of history. In other words when you look at all of history before the time of Christ it is like a postage stamp placed on top of the Empire State Building. Everything underneath it makes the end look very close. (4) Or you can see it as personally near – as though Christians are pushed to the edge of the Grand Canyon and then living our lives parallel to the rim. All that is needed to go over the edge is for our Lord to appear! We are living on the edge!!

So what do we do when we see our hour glass becoming empty and fear insignificance? You make a decision Peter says to live your time with a clear head, a warm heart and busy hands!

1. When you understand the limits of time you see the unlimited opportunities of life. But you must have a clear head. (v. 7)

1. Be of sound judgment: or keep your minds clear. It means to keep a cool, rational, balanced mind.
2. Be of sober spirit: "self controlled" or "control yourselves."

He says this for one specific purpose – for the purpose of prayer ("Then you will be able to pray." NCV). The key reason for a clear heard is not for the purpose of end time accuracy but for the present intercession!!!

Peter did not encourage speculation about the end. He didn’t advocate a preoccupation with the end time as some are doing with the new millennium approaching. Can you believe some of the things that people are doing out of fear of the Y2K bug as well as the millennium? Even Christians are becoming proponents of the "end of the world as we know it" mentality. We are not to be ignorant but be clear headed.

It’s the same with our seeing our life and our time slipping away from us. We need to get a grip! Refocus, renew, restore, change what needs changing but be clear headed! You can’t see the opportunities without a clear head!

No doubt as Peter wrote these lines he could think back to his own failure to stay alert in Gethsamane - the end was near but when Jesus told him to watch and pray, he went to sleep. These words take on new meaning. Be ready always! You do that daily, not trying to play catch-up Christianity!

Is your time limited? You bet! But face it with a clear head not anxious activity or irrational thinking!

1. When you understand the limits of time you see the unlimited opportunities so Peter would say keep a warm heart. (v. 8-9)

1. It’s a priority: "Above all…." Living on the edge, parallel with the end demands certain priorities. When we are tempted to turn inward Peter says let love for others be your first priority!
2. There’s an intensity about it: "keep fervent," (NIV "deeply"). It’s a word that describes an athlete straining for the finish line. Love for others should be so unrestrained and unchecked. It’s not given to isolation or self-preservation but stretched out for others.
3. All of this has a clear accomplishment or result about it: "covers…"(NIV: "Love has a way of not looking at others’ sins."). Very likely an unrecorded statement of Jesus (James 5:20). What does it mean? It can mean that His love covers my sin – seeks to obscure my fault. Or that my love covers my sin (Matthew 25) . Love for others is evidence of grace covering my sin!

He also says to keep a heart that has faithful hospitality. (v. 9) The word hospitality means to be friendly to strangers.("Open your homes to each other without complaining." NCV). Ultimate example is Jesus, "I was a stranger and you took me in." The early church opened their homes to preachers and their homes to churches in their homes.

One of the things that most people look for in church is our willingness to include others in our relationships. There is always the need to ask who needs to be included in my relationships? The danger of cliques and being inside or outside a group of people is a constant struggle. This is a problem with adults but especially for teens. The shooting at Columbine High School brought to light the depth of rage that exists among teens who are excluded and teased because they don’t fit in a particular group. One student from Columbine High School interviewed after the shooting said that it’s hard for an adult to imagine going into the lunchroom and trying to hide your feelings of isolation. That you just don’t want to admit you are alone. Could some of the rage that is being discovered among teens be removed if Christian kids would simply be open to a relationship with someone who is different? Our hospitality and our fellowship is what make any youth group, Sunday School class or church great because to open your life is to open your heart.

Your time is limited. You have the opportunity now to love and open your life and heart. Peter is not asking you to change the world, but to let your life be warmed by fervent love and faithful hospitality.

1. When you understand the limits of time you see the unlimited opportunities of life, so let your hands be busy. (v. 10-11)

• If you speak, with a conviction these are God’s sacred words. (As if you held a priceless document or treasure.)
• If you serve, with a reliance on the strength of God! (No feeling of self-sufficiency!)

What’s the result? "So that…."

• "Pastor, you just don’t understand my circumstances…"There will never be an ideal time for you to serve the Lord.
• Teenager: "I’m too young." "I’m too busy at school." "I’ m getting ready for college."
• Single: "I’m in college." "I’m starting my career." "I’m wanting to get married." "I’m divorced."
• With children: Preschoolers…grade school…teens…
• Empty nest: "I want to go and do. I don’t want to be tied down. Business is important."
• Retirement: Let others. I’ve served. I’m too old…

You see, there is no stage in life where you won’t have an excuse but if you are a person who understands the limits of time then be busy with that life serving God by His grace and for His glory!

Conclusion: "The end of all things is at hand." We’re living on the edge. One second in eternity and we go over. Have we faced this with a clear head or clouded thinking? Are we meeting these days with a warm heart or a frigid isolation? Are we walking through these times with busy hands or self-contained paralysis?

Sunday, May 30,1999

Dr. Bruce Tippit, Pastor

First Baptist Church

Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401