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So much has changed since I was young. When I was younger, proverbs and clichés had clear, deep and very educative meanings. So when you hear something like,

“Make hay while the sun shines…”

There is no doubt in your mind about the message it carries
But these days, you hear things like,

“Your mess is your message…”

And you wonder what message it has. Its ambiguity is not clear until you try to query it for its substance.
Does it mean, create a mess, and use it as your message? Or the mess you are in is your message? Or you should stay in the mess, for your message to be sustained? Or accept it when people mess with you, because it is supposed to be their message? What exactly is the spirit behind the coinage of such a cliché?

One of the most freuently abused clichés is:

“Times have changed…,”

In a recent conversation, someone used it to justify the awful homemaking skills of the current generation.

Every time the clock ticks, we know time has changed, but do we have to accept anything that comes with the changing times? Sometimes I wonder if the trans-debate that is occupying a lot of discussions these days should even be up for discussion at all! But someone will tell me, “times has changed.”

There is a big difference between being able to put words together for a certain rhythmic, emotional or literary effect; and being wise.

So when quoting cliché’s we need to ask the following questions:

• “What does the person who coined the cliché mean to convey?”
• “Does the saying or cliché even have any substance; or is it just a play on words?”
• “What was the context in which it was said?”
• “Does it apply to the current situation?”

On the issue of time, let me just share a few quotations from my favourite book, the Bible.

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent us. Night is coming, when no one can work.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.

Time is the most important resource God gave to man. Time is life, and is the reason we say, “you have wasted your life” When all you actually did was to spend your time unproductively. Man has the highest intellect of all inhabitants of this earth, and is expected to make progressive choices, instead of floating and drifting around with any doctrine, philosophy, idea or practice.

So next time we want to quote someone, let us ask oursleves the four questions above. That way, we will avoid quoting people without understanding the spirit and letter of what they said. As Job advised,

O that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it should be your wisdom. [Job 13:5]

The book of Proverbs puts the same thing this way:

A madman who is silent is considered a wise person, and he that keeps his lips silent is considered intelligent. [Proverbs 17:28 – Aramaic Bible in Plain English]

Before you quote someone, evaluate the person’s wisdom first; and see if that wisdom is good for you.
Once you put it out there, know that it is seen as your wisdom.

*URGENT CALL*
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!

God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.

It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.

Then develop your new relationship
with God through your Quiet Time.

Then find a Bible-Believing Church
where you can Fellowship with like
minded people.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!

God richly bless you.


*EXCITING NEWS!*
Your favourite website (Testimony Devotional) is back online, and with all content intact too!  

You can read this and other uplifting articles on the *Testimony Devotional Website* at:

www.testimonydevotional.org

or 

www.mytd.org.


*GRATITUDE*
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God bless you richly, and continue to pray without ceasing, and please say one for us too.

*EDITOR’S NOTE*
This article was previously puplished in Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp on November 2, 2021 under the same title, at a time when the Testimony Devotional website was still down.