Christian Living

AMERICA'S TICKING TIME CLOCK

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
03/27/20
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PROLOGUE

I remember growing up, when spring finally did arrive, it meant school would soon be out for the summer. I would ultimately be out of that scholastic prison that we thought of as educational confinement. If only summer time would encompass the rest of the school year. What is time, anyway, but a drop in the bucket of life?

There have been many time-centered clichés penned through the ages, but none more realistic than this one. Someone once said the reason time did fly was that we were always trying to kill it. It could be true.

Now that I am older than dirt and twice as gritty, I look back on time as if it was only yesterday. You see, now when I wake up, sometimes I will ask the wife what day it is. However, I can relate my experiences of yester-year with the best of them. I so often bore my family with my vivid recall.

What about time for us Christians? If we were to live a thousand years, we could not begin to repay our heavenly Father for His love toward us. (John 3:16). So, why not talk it over with Him today? (Psalm 28:2)

Now, sit back with that trusted cup of caffeine-free joe and enjoy this rather unique modern-day parable entitled “America’s Ticking Time-Clock”     

“What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears.” (James 4:14)    

I am really bugged out. But I must get to work on finishing my graduate class's lesson plan. I know my modern-day Bible college students surely won’t give me, their trusted Old Time Religion professor a break. After all, this old Bible professor must needs show a good Scriptural example. Nonetheless, first just let me resort to my normal afternoon nap, I’m so tired. Then it happened: the vision of a life time.

I found myself in a big open room surrounded by large antique grandfather clocks on every wall.  Clocks to the front of me. Clocks to the rear of me. Clocks to the east and the west of me. All were chirping out different chimes with the dropping of the pendulums.

Centered in the middle of this big room was a large world globe. The globe seemed to be emitting a bright glow as it turned on its axis. This gave way to the clocks being over- shadowed, as the globe rotated the world.   

“What it this place?” I wondered in bewilderment. "Is this my life passing right before my eyes? If so, can I stop time simply by stopping these pendulums?"

Then it happened, the room was filled with a heavenly thick cloud. Out of this cloud came a man and a baby holding hands as they walked forward. Why, its Father Time and Baby New Year holding hands, as if they knew each other. This too was somewhat troubling to me. Again, I wondered what this was all about, and how I got here.

Looking towards me, both displayed large grins as they began to speak. Father Time’s voice was a little crackly and Baby New Year was cooing baby talk, as if he was in agreement with Father Time.

Another mystery then began to unravel as both pulled what appeared to be Bibles out of nowhere. Father Time held an Old Testament and Baby New year held a New Testament. Opening the Bibles both began to read. Being a pronounced Bible scholar, I realized both were reading Scripture prophecy. Father Time was forecasting the birth and work of Israel’s Messiah by reading from Isaiah 53, and Baby New Year was foreseeing the End Times events by reading Matthew 24.

Father Time’s Old Testament prophecy, I knew very well, from my seminary studies, has already come to pass. 

As for Baby New Year’s reading, I was not as familiar with it. These were a little more revealing, as he continued reading about today’s current events in (II Timothy 3:1-9,13) and (II Timothy 4:3-4). I must confess, however, these readings were accurate with respect to today’s American lifestyle.

At the conclusion of the readings, the two showed contrasting outward expressions. Father Time displayed a big smile of contentment and happiness. Baby New year quickly went into an infantile rage of crying and screaming.  

Being well informed of Scripture. I was quick to get the point of these conflicting reactions. The birth and times prophecies of the Savior of the world was a happy event of history, as opposed to the promises of the chaos surrounding the End Times destruction.

What an enchanting delight, this real-life object lesson was, I must quickly thank these two. Yet, before I could express my thanks, they were gone. They suddenly disappeared as well as the entire vision scenario.

Upon awaking, I found myself back home, sitting up sleepy-eyed in bed. On the table before me was my trusted laptop, Bible and concordance waiting for me to finish with the graduate students' lesson plan of “America’s Ticking Time-Clock. “

I get it, I just can’t wait for next week!  Now, I really have a show-and-tell for my graduate students!  While fresh on my mind I must get back to work, which I did as I burned the midnight oil.  I just know they will come to love this Old Time Religion professor for this. Amen!

EPILOGUE

Did you enjoy this brief fictitious parable, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning? I trust that you appreciated its reading as much as I did its writing. Did you get the gist of its message?

Well, let us interpret the vision. The clocks displaying the time variations represented the different world time zones. The turning globe shining brightly demonstrated bringing the light of the Gospel to the world. (Matthew 5:14-16).

With the arrival of the characters Father Time and Baby New Year, we saw the old year of the Gospel fading out and the New Year’s possibilities of spreading the gospel coming into place.

The reading of Scripture certified the truth of Bible prophecy; the birth and ministry of Israel’s Messiah and the End Times as we know it to be. You see, the Bible gives the guidelines for the Christian's spiritual education and growth. (II Timothy 3:16-17) It also serves for our prophetic interpretation of Scripture. (I Peter 1:20-21)

The outward expressions of Father Time and Baby New Year, are characteristic of the feelings of the times represented, the good news and the bad news of its civilizations. 

Yes, America is surely a ticking time-bomb. Just when will this clock explode? One need only read the local newspaper, tune in the national television, surf the internet, talk with one's neighbor over the picket fence. Even sitting under some church sermons we can  quickly realize the time in which we are living.

So, may we now be living on the edge of civilization as we know it? (II Peter 2:2-3,10,13-15) Are we living in total delusion? (II Peter 3:3-4)  

If so, what do we need to do about it. (II Peter 3:17-18) I have my own personal views of time. And yours? Amen!

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