It's a Beautiful Day-what a great name for a group. Out of San Francisco in 1967, they put out their signature album in 1969 by the same name. The White Bird album is how it is usually referred to, and it has no bad songs on it. Like they used to say, put it in the first groove and let it wail. And this classical/jazz/rock music will move you for over 40 minutes. But the long song, at over nine minutes is called Time, appropriately enough, and the beat is fast, but the words make you think.
"Time is too long for those who wait..." Sounds like a lot of us. "Time is too short for those who laugh..." agreed. "But for those who really love time is eternal..." AMEN.
Take six hours for instance. 360 minutes if you will. I can ride to Phoenix from home, and still have an hour left for lunch. I can fly non-stop to Newark in the same time. Football couch potatoes spend that much time on Sundays on NFL games. Kids in school have a six hour day. And depending on whether you are waiting for school to let out, or pick up someone at the airport, or go for a ride through the desert, each six hours will take a different amount of time in your mind. But the time elapsed will always be the same, but not the state of mind. Time can be like that. Why do the last two minutes of an NFL game take so long? Two minutes still equals 120 seconds. Why does it take so long to taxi to the gate once you've landed? And why does cruising in traffic seem to take forever after riding at 85mph? All are six hour experiences, it is how you view the activity.
On a certain Friday, a man with two thieves was hung on the cross for six hours. Crucifixion, the called it, one of the most cruel ways to die ever invented. And for six hours, our Lord Jesus hung there, in agony and in innocence. Two thieves, one on either side-one acknowledged who He was, the other rejected. And each one was to have a different take on eternity. At about 3pm, after six hours, the guards came to break the legs of the crucified, to hasten their death. Not in mercy, they just wanted to go home. But they found Jesus already dead, and thrust a spear into Him, releasing blood and water from around His heart. The blood, shed for us, is the same blood we celebrate in communion, and the water-quite possibly tears stored for you in His heart, for He spent the six hours on the cross praying for all of us. His final act on earth, one of love. Offering us the same salvation He had offered the thieves. And just like when His Father created the world in six days, and then rested, Jesus entered back into eternity, and for those of us committed to Him, He paved the way for us to rest, also. And like His Father, He saw that it was good.
Six hours, not a long time, but a tortuous time for Jesus. But in that time, He would change the world. And no one could see why it was to be called Good Friday, for how could anything be good to anyone at the time. But three days later, when they found His tomb empty, and remembered His promises, it all became clear. Especially to the thief who had been promised Paradise that night by Jesus. All who believe Jesus will enter into rest, and heaven upon death on earth! Our tombs will be empty too! And that is why we celebrate Easter, or better yet Resurrection Day! To be reminded of a time when we too shall be resurrected like Jesus-but only if you believe. But you cannot have Easter without Good Friday, and although painful for Christ, it was most definitely a good day for us.
Consider that next time you get impatient, what Jesus did in six hours. Patiently and painfully. Time truly seems too long for those of us who wait. Time is way to short for those of us who laugh. But for those who really love-time is eternal! That makes any day special.
Patience, endurance, and the eternal reward of heaven. We are only one decision away, just like the thief who chose Jesus. Choose wisely-no second chances at death. No resurrection for those who don't believe. For them, time will be agonizingly long. But for us-aah, heaven. And I can't wait! Oh, and by the way-Jesus never hurried! He's patient so that no one will have to go to Hell. Tomorrow is promised to no man, and today is the day of salvation. Six hours-not a lot of time, to some a few minutes-to others an eternity! Truly in Jesus, It's a Beautiful Day!
For a beautiful story of that day, crossministries.net
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
