"Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." {James 4:14}
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth...And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: ...While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." (Genesis 1:1,14; 8:22)
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up... there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men...Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness... Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (2 Peter 3:10,3-7,11.14)
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is...Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour." (Ephesians 5:14-17,1-2)
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable (spiritual) service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God...Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God... And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." {Romans 12:1,2; 2:6-11; 13:11,12}
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." {Ephesians 6:13-18}
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." {1 Peter 5:6-9}
"Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name....For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow and without hope...I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You." {1 Chronicles 29:13,15,17}
"Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am...What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave...For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away...So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom." {Psalm 39:4; 89:48; 90:9,10,12}
"To everything there is a season, a time for every person under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." {Ecclesiastes 3:1-8}
"He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. Because for every matter there is time and judgment...Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil."{Ecclesiastes 8:5,6; 12:13,14}
"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time...See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil...And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear." {Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16,17; 1 Peter 1:17}
"Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." {Acts 17:31}
"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." {Hebrews 9:27}
This compilation of scriptures is but a small part of God's Word, which teaches and warns us about the value and brevity of our time here on this earth; also, that we will give account of how we used that time so graciously granted to us by our Father! Time is indeed "Running Away!" Are we using God's gift of time allotted to us wisely or foolishly?
"Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth." (Proverbs 17:24) The soul who seeks what is above (cf. Colossians 3:1-4) is a soul who understands; understands that this life is but a prelude to eternity, where time's running will have ceased! Only while we live can we press toward the heavenly goal (cf. Philippians 3:13-14). Never forget that time is not on man's side, because God is the timekeeper! One day, the clock will strike for the final time. Don't let it run away from you! "Little children, it is the last time...(1 John 2:18)