I can hear the clock on the
wall ticking away, marking the passing of time.
I look down on my desk, and I can see the calendar, which is also
marking the passing of time. The calendar
has several labels, including Valentines Day, President's Day, and Saint
Patrick's Day, among others. I am
reminded of this reflection on time in Ecclesiastes 3:
1 There is a time for
everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time
to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
This reflection reminds me
of the various ways we use time. But
what is the significance of it all? I
understandably am sometimes demoralized when something happens to undo what I
have done with my time. I, like so many
others, wonder what I do matters.
The text goes on to declare
in verse 11:
"He has also set
eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from
beginning to end."
We have eternity in our
heart. We have the ages in our
heart. We want to see the big picture
and know how everything fits together. How
does what we do matter? Will something
render our time in this life as insignificant?
I remember how my
grandmother, in her later years, used to declare when we were worked up over
something, "Oh well. Who is going
to care 100 years from now?" She
understood something about not seeing past the horizon even though we have
eternity in our hearts. For much of my
early life, I did not know who my great-great grandfather was, much less my
great grandfather. I will probably not
know who my great-great grandchildren are, and perhaps not know my great
grandchildren. My perspective is very,
very limited in the overall scheme of things.
However, I am reminded that
I do not see the time line the way God does.
God also has eternity in his heart, but unlike myself, he can see from
beginning to end. He saw the cross while
man was still in the garden. He could
see even further, past the cross, to the end of Satan, sin, and death in the
lake of fire. He even saw me long before
I was born and how I fit into his overall plan.
Even though I cannot see
time the way God does, I accept by faith that somehow what is beyond the
horizon in front and behind me somehow all fits together in some grand scheme
that is moving toward a consummation that will magnificently be worth it
all.
There is truly a time for
everything. I am reminded of this when
Jesus, several times during his earthly ministry said, "My time has not
yet come." But as his time drew
near, Jesus began to prepare his disciples for what was to come. Here is what he said about those who will persecute
his followers: "I have told you this, so that when their time comes you
will remember that I warned you about them" (Jn 16:4). Yes, they will have their time. However, when their time came, he also said,
"The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified." The enemy's is brief and temporary because it
was also the time for the Son of God to be glorified by defeating the enemy on
the cross. Unlike the enemy's time,
Christ's time is permanent! Jesus said,
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In
the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the
world" (Jn 16:33).
All time is ultimately God's
time. It fits together as part of God's
plan. I need to keep this in mind when
facing hardships. I may not be able to
see what is beyond the seasonal horizon, so I remember that God uses his time
to bring about his plan from beginning to end.
Inserted into the middle of his timeline is myself, who works within the
times and seasons to bring about the goal of God's time. Thank you Lord for this perspective.