James H. Cagle
“For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten” (Ecclesiastes 2: 16 KJV).
Yesterday is “now” gone. Today is “now” here. Tomorrow is “now” coming. “Now” is a small brief window in time that we choose to do something or not. We do something now or we put it off till later. But we know if we don’t do it now we may never do it.
This “now” is vitally important. It is by wisely using every “now” that we eventually accomplish some great life-long work.
“Now” is represented by the increments or cubicles of time that span our day through which activities flow, which activities vary from cubicle to cubicle. Now we’re doing something and now we’re not, or now we’re doing something else. Now we’re eating, or now we’re working, or now we’re sleeping.
“Now” is simply the present moment in which we live. I am alive now but could be dead in the next cubicle of “now” and someone reports that I am now dead.
“Now” is the moment of opportunity which if we do not take advantage of today, we may tomorrow say, “Why didn’t I act then?” But then is now yesterday and now we’re facing today with regrets.
“Now” is when we decide our eternal destiny. Paul said that now is the time to get saved when we are under conviction of sin and the Holy Spirit is calling us.
King Solomon in our text is speaking of another “now.” Instead of a small window in a twenty-four hour period he is speaking of a lifetime. A lifetime is a small window of time in the broad space of eternity. And this “now” is the only time we have to get saved and do something for God. That “now” is represented by increments or cubicles of time such as years that span our lifetime through which activities flow which activities vary from cubicle to cubicle.
What we are going through now will one day be forgotten. But the life we are now living and the things we are now doing will one day be judged by God and we will have our now moment in which we find ourselves standing before Jesus Christ and giving an account of ourselves.
