Part Three: The King’s Impact

“These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.”
John 12:16

Hindsight is usually 20/20.
I’ve learned that life is a collection of little “moments in time” that we get to experience.

I was recently looking at some pictures of an old workplace from 15-20 years ago.
It was that machine shop where I first learned about steel, milling machines, and production.
It was that job which taught me to navigate dangerous equipment and to learn from the experienced men around me.

It was that company which sponsored my college education for many years.

I had taken a disposable camera (remember those?) into work one day and walked around the shop at lunchtime taking pictures of machines and things.

At the time it was just my job…going to school and working nights was my life and seemed like it would never change. I figured I’d take some pictures of the shop to show some people back home.

But now I look at those pictures and realize it was so much more…it was a defining time period in my young life that shaped my knowledge, work ethic, and personality.
Those pictures are a record of a time and place that will never come back…but they left an indelible mark on my soul.

Jesus Christ had a group of young men around him who didn’t fully realize at the time what they were experiencing.

They saw His miracles, they heard His teachings, they danced around His prophecies, and they saw the palm branch procession leading Him into Jerusalem…but only later did they look back and realize the enormity of their experiences with Jesus Christ.
Only AFTER He was glorified did they remember and understand what He had meant…only then was the bigger picture made clear.

Savor life…make the most of it.
Savor those moments in time with your spouse.
Savor those moments in time with your kids, parents, friends, and church family.
Savor your prayer times with God.

Embrace life’s joys AND trials.
God allows each one to shape you and mature you.

The moments are fleeting…
but if we stop and appreciate them we won’t have to look back with regret, wishing we’d been more grateful. We’re not meant to wolf down experiences like hungry dogs…we’re meant to taste life with Godly understanding and contemplation.

Savor those special “moments in time” that God has given you…they’ll soon be in the past, my friends.