Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52, American King James Version)

The prophets spoke of a period which they called "the last days" (Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1; in Hebrew, "the after days"), as the period in which the Messiah would live and reign. Peter wrote that the resurrection of Christ has brought the faithful
“to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1;4-5)
The Savior expressly said that it was not designed that anyone should know when future events would occur. Thus, prior to His ascension, in answer to an inquiry whether he then would restore the kingdom to Israel, he said Acts 1:7, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power."
Still, question abounded then, as now, concerning the form, the body, that the dead shall have. Paul speaks not of the time of the coming of the last day, but of how it shall take place. He wrote to the Corinthians about the bodies of the living,
“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” -A mystery, a secret, which could never have been discovered by reason, or the light of nature. And it shall happen “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”
The Greek word used here for "moment" is ATOMOS. This passage is the only place in the Greek New Testament where this word is used. ATOMOS is the word from which is derived from our English word "atom." The Greeks believed that the atom was the smallest particle of matter that existed, therefore it could not be divided, cut, split, or reduced in any way. The translators have taken this to mean that our bodies shall be changed in "an atom of time," that is, in an instant of time so brief that you could not make it any quicker, or reduce the time in any measure.
To further illustrate the quickness of this transformation, Paul uses the expression, “In the twinkling of an eye.” So how fast is that? The eyes can wink, blink and twink, it is said. A wink is a controlled movement of the eye and so it's length of time is indeterminate, but the quickest wink lasts for a half second. A blink is a reflex action of the eye and lasts somewhere between 300 and 400 milliseconds. The twinkling of the eye is caused by an involuntary, very wide dilation in the eye, estimated by some number crunchers to be 1/6,000,000,000th of a second to make a person's eyeball twinkle: This expression means 'very fast' or 'instantaneously'.
Plainly and unquestionably it concerns our change, our transformation into the image of Christ. See 1 Cor. 15:35-50, which precedes the scripture passage. Our change from mortal to immortal, from corruptible to incorruptible is a promise of God that can no more fail or pass away than any other of God's promises. Jesus states the promise in John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Since we are not given to know in advance the day or the hour, we should be ready at all times. Waiting to set our spiritual affairs in order just won’t work. It will be very difficult to make changes during that “twinkling of an eye!”

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Isaiah wrote, Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” - Isaiah 55:6

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying,
And this same flower that smiles today,
To-morrow will be dying. ROBERT HERRICK

So - take time to smell the roses!
“Carpe Diem” is a Latin phrase that is sometimes used to express the thought of making the most of an opportunity. Literally, “Seize the Day,” with roots in the word for pluck, gather or harvest.
I can picture a rose - yes, any flower - at its peak of perfection, filled with the aroma which we are admonished to enjoy. How quickly, how fleetingly, is that moment snatched from us.
Fruit, also, the sometimes fullness of the flowering, may be in the developing stage that we call ‘green’ for an extended time, reaching ripeness with its own aroma and taste only briefly before passing into inevitable decay. The fullness of time, Yes! That is the moment to harvest, to savor, that which the Lord has prepared.
The harvest is only half of the given opportunity, however. If someone gives us a gift, we respond with an expression of gratefulness; a “Thank You” is appropriate. The flower, the fruit, I may pluck and present to you. I have not caused it to bloom, to ripen, though; that is The Lord’s gift.
All too often the phrase “Carpe Diem” is taken, especially by poets and lovers, as the enjoyment of the pleasures of the moment without concern for the future. And, I might add, without concern for the Giver of the moment.
I think Jesus expressed the earthly, unthankful viewpoint well in the parable of the man who built many barns for his harvest, and enjoyed the moment as a time to “eat, drink, and be merry.” No thanksgiving, no thought of sharing his bounty, which he would not have received except the Lord provided it. (Lk 12:16-21)
Paul wrote, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith,” Galatians 6:10, NKJV
That is the double opportunity; as we receive from the Lord, we need to remember to call upon Him when His presence is evident in the gift. Seize the moment, yes, the moment to ‘Seek the Lord while He may be found, to call upon Him while He is near.’
And give thanks!
November 20, 2005