Christian Living

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How hardly do we adapt to the Lord's timetable! (Or is it the Lord's "timeless" table?) So much of the time we are at cross purposes. What seems long to us (answers to prayers, fulfillment of dreams, etc.) must seem short in the context of the cosmos. What seems short to us (life lived outside God's will) must seem long to God who is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish. It must seem long to Jesus who patiently stands at the heart's door and knocks waiting to be let in.

But God operates in timelessness. His attributes of love, mercy, grace, faithfulness, presence, wisdom and power are timeless by nature. We know that Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." And we know that with our minds, but to time-bound creatures, this cometimes presents a problem. Time to us is of the essence. Listen to our speech: It's about time, what time is it? it's high time; I don't have time; where does the time go? Our preoccupation with hours and minutes is all too evident. It is said that if you don't make time your servant, it will become your master. Time management seminars are a vital part of corporate business life. Using time wisely is a high priority in our lives.

When Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, He bridged the gap between a timeless God and His time-bound creation. Scripture says He came in the fullness of time (when God saw that it was the right time). While Jesus lived among us, he perfectly prioritized His time. He fit right in with men's schedules (religious gatherings, wedding, etc.) when it was conducive to being about His Father's business. But nothing in Scripture indicates that Jesus ever hurried through one activity to get to another. He spent no time in panic or anxiety even in threatening circumstances. When He prayed to his Father (which He often found time to do), He gave God no time frame or urgency in which to work. He made His loving petition and left it there for His Father's will to be done in the matter. He submitted graciously to the limitations of time, but He contunually pointed to values that are timeless. He lived under time constraint but directed time-bound people toward eternity when time shall be no more. He continually emphasized values that transcend time: love, mercy, forgiveness, etc. And Paul reminded us we ought to look at what is not seen (eternal) rather than at what is seen (temporal or time-oriented).

But time is a part of human reality, and Scripture addresses it. Solomon said there is a time for every purpose, and a wise man's heart discerns both time and season. Luke says God has determined the times before appointed. Paul says time is short--now is the accepted time; today is the day of salvation, and his recurring theme was that we ought to redeem the time, that is, exchange it for something eternally valuable. A day with the Lord is as a thousand years, but the Revelation tells us someday time will be no more. Only the souls of people and timeless values will then remain.

Time is surely with us and part of our lives, but we ought to concentrate on the long view. How happy, secure and safe we will be when we learn to rest in the great measured beat of the Lord's timetable.

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