There is something mystical about a wrist watch in this highly technical world we live in today. Perhaps It is because they range from time pieces to radios, calculators, remote controls, and a variety of other uses.  A friend of mine has a talking watch which may be suitable for a person that has difficulty seeing, however, it may not be appropriate for a person who is hard of hearing.  There are watches that illuminate brightly, musical watches which plays a tune, remote control watches that control your television and VCR, and fashionable watches of every description.  Timex is marketing a new concept to personal time  management.  You can purchase a Timex data link watch and download important information from your computer, and take it with you wherever you go. Information like telephone numbers, appointments, anniversary and birthday dates, things to do list, etc.

     Names like Seiko, Citizen Timex, and Pulsar have replaced the oldies like Bulova Hamilton, Elgin and Benrus.  Prices begin at five dollars at the flea market to thousands of dollars at Tiffany's Jewelry Store in New York City.

         During June 1955, I was twenty years old and was stationed aboard the USS Markab AD21 and was sailing towards Puerto Rico.   As the ship slipped into the deep waters beyond the three mile limit of the coastal shore all items in the commissary were exempt of taxes.  I purchased at that time a twenty-one jewel Bulova wrist watch for thirty-five dollars.  That was one of the best investments I have ever made.  This watch has been running five decades and continues to run today.  It has been with me through college, grad school, hospital stays, and throughout my ministry as a pastor.   I have been reminded of appointments and schedules of every description by two untiring hands of this instrument.  I've counted minutes that seem like hours and hours that seem like minutes as a father and a husband.  Someone said time is relative, however, five minutes in a dentist chair may be longer than a hour long Sunday morning message by a monotone preacher.

             I have been reminded many many times by this time piece that life is fleeing, witnessing for the Lord is imminent, and I must apply my heart unto wisdom.  I pray there haven't been too many wasted hours, too many moments of unworthy thoughts or deeds.  From the day I purchased this watch we have been inseparable. There are no batteries, lights, voices, tunes, or valuable information about the environment, but just accurate time.  I don't think a watch should lie around unwound and idle, for watches are like people, they are better off when they are working.  I have worn out clothes, automobiles, eye glasses, and trinkets galore, but the old Bulova continues to tick on and on and on.

            I'm a little closer to eternity now than I was when I purchased that old faithful Bulova.  The Bible says, "Our days of our years are three score years and ten.." (Psalm 90: 10).  If there is any of earth's trappings I could take with me is would be my Bulova watch.  I won't be needing it to tell the time for "time will be no more". However, it has been a wonderful reminder of Gods provision in my life for more than four decades.  Solomon summarized man's end as: "For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Eccl. 12:14)