At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.—Mark 13:26 (NIV)

As I prepare to leave my home, I slip on my favorite watch, an old wind-up style I received at my high school graduation. It’s elegant, requires no batteries, and has a feature not often found anymore. The second hand doesn’t sweep gracefully around the dial. Instead, it ticks along, sixty times per minute. Every instant that passes is recognized, and that matters to me. 

Why is a single, tiny increment of time so important? Because at one particular moment I didn’t believe in Jesus and the next I did. In that instant my mind stopped wavering, and I made the decision that would change my life forever. My soul escaped the grip of sin and was set free. All because the Creator of time itself chose to use His years here on Earth for my salvation. It seems things that happen in a flash are intimately connected with the infinite. 

One second, Jesus took His first breath as a human. During His crucifixion, one moment He hung on the cross, suffering for my sin. The next, He was gone. Days later, in one magnificent instant, He stepped out from His tomb. And someday He’ll return, as fast and bright as lightning, visible to all (Matthew 24:27). 

Now He’s with me every hour, every minute, every second of every day. I won’t take a single one for granted because time—like grace—is precious. I plan to make it count.

Faith Step: Look back on your most precious moments. How can you make time to create special memories for others?