Life quickly glides away!
(James Smith, "The Time is Short!" 1860) Play Audio! Download
"But this I say, brethren: the time is short!" 1 Corinthians 7:29
Our time on earth is short, and it is daily growing shorter!
Life quickly glides away, and death and eternity rapidly approaches.
In a little while we shall close our eyes on all the scenes of earth, and be done with all the concerns of time.
Few things fly swifter than time, or teach us more solemn lessons. Yet we slight them, and forget them, or fail to improve them. O for grace to derive comfort, reproof, and stimulus from the brevity of time.
"The time is short!" Then our troubles must be short, for they are all limited to time. They are the offspring of sin, and will not out-live their parent! Every trouble, leaves one the less to be endured. Soon the last trouble will arrive! Let us therefore . . .
bear them with patience,
endure them with fortitude, and
rejoice in the prospect of bidding them an eternal farewell.
Our sharpest, severest trials, will soon be ended! And then all that will remain, will be eternal peace and joy!
"The time is short!" Then the pleasures of time will soon terminate!
As sweet as they are, they are all fleeting!
Prize them as we may, we must soon part with them. Not one of them will go with us beyond the dying bed. Let us not then, value them too highly, or set our hearts too much upon them.
Earthly comforts, worldly distinctions and honors, will soon have passed away. The rich and the poor will soon meet together in the graveyard. The peasant and the prince, the beggar and monarch, will alike slumber together in the dust. Let us then, if tempted to think too much of the worldly distinctions, or value too highly the comforts of life—remember that the time is short!
"The time is short!" Then Jesus will soon be here! How will many things appear, which now occupy our time, engross our attention, and steal away our hearts—when Jesus comes?
Believer, "the time is short," lift up your head with joy.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for. . .
your tribulation will soon cease,
your sorrow will soon flee away, and
the days of your mourning shall be ended.
Time is the limit of your trials, temptations, and troubles.
Time is the limit of your conflicts, doubts, and fears.
Time is the limit of your pains, privations, and griefs.
Beyond time, all is . . .
peace and pleasure,
purity and perfection,
happiness and rest!
Lift up then your head with joy, for your redemption, your eternal redemption draws near!
"So teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12