Parking

             La Porte, Indiana was a large “town” of about 35,000 people and had on it's main street, angular parking. You just nosed your car into the parking place and then could easily back out when your business was finished. Then, as streets became more crowded, they started with parallel parking which was always a headache for new drivers. Then, with more crowding on the streets, the parking on Main street was banned as parking lots began to appear. This all took place but not before the the appearance of the parking meter. Parking would no longer be free. An insurance company has placed an advertisement on the television where an older woman is putting money in a parking meter.  She makes the comment, "Wouldn't it be nice if life was like that.  All you would have to do is to put in a quarter to get more years of life."  Of course, if you miss putting in your quarter, that little flag might pop us which says, "Time expired."  Not one of us knows for certain how many years we have upon this earth.  Some people are living much longer than in the past while there are even children passing away.  Psalm 90:10 says, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."   

           This Psalm is a reminder as to the fact that God is control of the number of our years and the average for all of the years lived by people still comes close to the "70" mark.  This might worry some while others think that they have many years to go.  For me, I am living in overtime. There was one man, who made the following remark.  "You are immortal until God is finished with you."  When you think about it, this is a very true statement.  Everyone probably would desire to have immortality and not to taste death in any shape or form.  That brings us to the first part of the statement, "You are immortal..."  The thought behind this is when God is using an individual, there is nothing that is going to change that.  God is the One who is in control and He is the One who decides when that "Time Expired" flag goes up.  The second part of the statement is "...until God is finished with you."  This is just as true.  We all have a purpose and a job to do in the world.  We may think that it would have been nice if when we were saved, God would have immediately translated us into heaven.  But, that was not the case.  In fact, God has a purpose for each and every one of us in His plan to reach others for Christ.  So, keep on, keeping on.  Be involved in God's plan to reach others.  When God is finished with you and your work is done, then you will delight in going to the home that He has prepared for you.  Until then, you have something to do.  Be thankful that you don't have to keep putting quarters into the meter.  After all, you might forget one and be in trouble.  Praise God that He is using you and that you have a purpose in His church.