Leap Into The Future That God Has Called You To

One of our key goals here at LUF is helping Christians to understand that they are "ambassadors" (2 Corinthians 5:20) and what that means in relation to the command to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world that desperately needs to hear it while we are given the time to do so.

Such a truth is never more at the forefront of our minds than during a Leap Year. Did you know that 2012 is a Leap Year? Yes! In fact, a Leap Year happens only once every 4 years, and the world is celebrating it today.

For the past 4 years, we have dropped a minute a day, or dropped about a minute a day for a total of 1460 minutes, and on Leap Year day, we will reclaim those minutes, each and every one of them, which is why some have said that we have 366 days to work with this year. That got me thinking.



First and foremost, as a student of Bible prophecy, naturally, a day like today got me thinking about something Jesus said in contrast to Leap Year Day.

Matthew 24:22 (ESV) And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Mark 13:20 (ESV) And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

The adding of a day, the shortening of days.

What has been gained or lost for you these past 4 years in a minute-by-minute accounting? What would you have savored more? An extra minute to hold someone? An extra minute to take that one step of courage? An extra minute to say something otherwise left unsaid? An extra minute to linger longer in the doorway? An extra minute to gaze at your child who’s now 4 years older? An extra minute to reconsider a choice you made? An extra minute to say, “I love you!” maybe? What has filled your minutes, and hours, and days these past 4 years?

Leap Year Day is a day for inventory and for picking up all these minutes (and moments) we lost, gathering them into this day, and resolving once again to savor this thing the Lord gave us called life.

Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to turn our inward focus outward. Life as a Christian should not be characterized by “What’s in it for me?”, but characterized by “What can I do for others in serving Him?” instead.

In 1 Corinthians 15:8, Paul describes himself as follows: “One born out of due time”. It was his way of not only explaining the timing of his conversion in comparison to the other Apostles, but of also expressing his deep humility over the thought that God chose him to be His servant despite his awful intentions that day as Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.

And so it is with each and every one of us who is called by God (John 6:44; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 7:24; Jude 1:1), isn’t it?

I pray that our humility is born from the knowledge of what it truly means to be a ‘Christian’, which is more than just some label we use to identify ourselves to each other.

Friends, we are not only brothers and sisters, the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:11-13), but also “heirs” (Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 3:6; Galatians 3:29; Galatians 4:7; Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 3:22).

As we prayerfully consider what to do with this Leap Year Day, or a time when we are given an extra day, let’s reflect on how such a concept ties in with Paul’s description of being a believer “born out of due time” because I think it can help guide us toward the future (Proverbs 16:9), and help us to hit the Reset Button in our lives so that we can focus on what’s most important.

So many people assume that being 'called' by God is some sort of inexplicable spiritual event that only the holiest of the holy get to experience in this life. Truth is, if you’re a Christian, then you have already received and answered the call, my friend!

2 Corinthians 5:20 says plainly, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” Think about what that means. Think about what a privilege that is!

In the real world, an ambassador delivers an important message from one nation to another and it’s usually between two nations in some state of war with another other.

The message to us couldn’t be any clearer because it underscores the very Gospel message itself and why sinners need to repent of their sins and place their faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so that they can receive His free gift of grace and salvation (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Another thing about ambassadors is that they are not responsible for the results, or how the message they deliver is ultimately received and responded to, but they are responsible for delivering it exactly as it was intended to be delivered to the other party. We are called as Christians to be ambassadors and to deliver the Gospel to a world that desperately needs to hear it.

So, my challenge to you this Leap Year Day is to take the extra time that the Author of Time Himself gives you and devote it entirely to Him; use it for His glory, honor, and praise.

How might you do that exactly? That's between you and the Lord.

What are you going to do for Jesus Christ -- right now? Why not resolve to serve Him more and leap into the future that God has already called you to?

In closing, it's fitting that we're talking about the necessity of preaching the Gospel and its direct connection to the fulfillment of end times prophecy.

How so? Well, check out Matthew 24 and Jesus' detailed response. We opened this piece with a verse from that reply. I like how Matthew Henry commented on it: "...for the elect's sake these days shall be made shorter than their enemies designed, who would have cut all off, if God, who used these foes to serve his own purpose, had not set bounds to their wrath."

Appropriate for our time, wouldn't you say?

Keep looking up!

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