Lines by Lee

Recently my four siblings and our families had a 24-hour reunion trip to Pittsburgh. We took in some sights and did things most of us had never done, even though the majority of us live fairly close to the Steel City. We had a great time sharing old memories and creating new ones. One thing that was obvious was that everyone lives with deadlines.

There was a checkout deadline. What time should we meet in the hotel lobby to start our adventure? She says 10 a.m. I offer 11 a.m. OK – 10:30 a.m. Most made that deadline. Some were a bit late. We tried to avoid the glare that said, "You are late." The first boat ride was at 11 a.m. We can make it! We didn't make it. So we had to "kill time" for 45 minutes. We all hate doing that because time is precious. The Bible calls time and our lives a mist or vapor. Peaking of fading fast...

We had purchased Pittsburgh Pirate tickets in advance so we could go to a game together for the first time. Back when the seats were secured Bucco fans had hopes of making the playoffs. Time and very few wins in July and August changed that. My sister who had never seen a baseball game in her life wondered when the game would end. She was looking for the clock that was counting down the conclusion of the game. Of course the only deadline in baseball is the ninth inning and even that is flexible. Her highlight of the game was the pierogi race.

As we were at the point of giving up on a Pirates comeback we had our eyes on our watches (or phones). A great little ice cream place closed at 10:30 p.m. sharp. We had a deadline. We had to walk fast to the parking garage. We had squeezed into two vehicles. I was one of the drivers. My younger brother was at the wheel in the other. I made it by 10:29 p.m. as they were turning out the lights. Delicious milkshakes! My brother and his passengers arrived at 10:35 p.m. They were without ice cream that night.

Whether we realize it or not, life is driven by deadlines sometimes. For most Americans, April 15 is a dreaded deadline. We check expiration dates. When I lived in a mobile home there was the monthly lot rent that had to be paid. For a lot of folks there is a car payment or mortgage deadline that seems to come around more quickly than every four weeks. Though my son's final year of high school has not begun there is a senior picture deadline to be met. I remember having to write dozens of papers in college and seminary. The question I always asked was, "when is it due?"

For submission of this bimonthly column I have a deadline. One would think that two weeks is a reasonable deadline to get the job done. Yet, I had to scramble a bit to get these very words written because I was kindly informed that I had missed the deadline. I thought I had another week. The saying is true – time flies!

Some people like deadlines because they motivate them to take care of business on time. Without deadlines they may not get anything done. For others, deadlines are a source of pressure and stress. They would prefer to sip on some iced tea on a remote island where time stands still. But as we know, time is always on the move. We all live in some ways with a sense of urgency for different reasons at different times.

We took a lot of group photos on our family trip. We talked about how some of us looked like a parent or grandparent. We wondered how our children grew so quickly. And as we saw ourselves in the pictures there was no denying the fact that we were no proverbial spring chickens anymore. We could see the gray hair and wrinkles. We talked about the medications we were on. Though we don't have any dates set, we recognize there are deadlines for our lives.

Hebrews 9:27 states, "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..." As much as we may try to stay young, there is that one deadline that no one has ever gotten around. The clock is ticking on our lives. Sometimes I remind myself of this fact with a verse written thousands of years ago. Our days may come to 70 years, or 80, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away (Psalm 90:10). No one could argue with the fact that years quickly pass. But for people of faith the deadline brings us to that flying away moment that ushers us into God's presence and glory. What a day of rejoicing that will be! We need not fear dying.

There is a deadline that we would much prefer, of course. God is driven by His grace, mercy, and patience. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Yet, at some point the trumpet sound brings the end of His waiting on people to come to their senses in repentance. According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

As you face the mundane deadlines of life, keep in mind the ultimate ones. Jesus is coming back! We should pray for Him to return quickly. In the meantime, live in light of eternity. Keep things in perspective. And realize that once you are in Heaven there will be no more deadlines. When God's dwelling place is among His people our eyes won't be on the clock or calendar but on the Christ!