Gift of Time
God created space and time. It has been said that the time we have is a gift we have been given and how we use that time is our gift back to Him.
“In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them. The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance...Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.” At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised."
Deuteronomy 1:3, 6-11, 15-17, 19, 21-22
It is remarkable to see how clearly the events unfolded at exactly the right time as God led the Israelites out of Egypt into the promised land. God took the people out of Egypt but it took time to get Egypt out of the people. So it is with us. There is a process of unlearning what we have learned so that we can correctly learn the gift of the present moment. How is the past or the unknown of the future impact how you look at today? Is there anything in your life that it is time to move on from today?
God knew exactly how long the people should stay and when they should go. He said you have stayed too long on the mountain. Get going! We can have a tendency to get complacent and fall into routines. God's plan continually reminds us that the time is now to do His will. He does not give us all the details of where we are going, but He does personally lead us each moment. Look at how He led the chosen people by fire and by the clouds of His presence. He wants to teach us to focus more on Him than getting what we want when we want it.
God's plan did not rely on good fortune or lucky timing. Have you ever taken the time to look back and consider God's timing? Can you look back at the seasons of your life and see how the time you had during that season was a gift even if it was a hard season? Can you see how you were being formed and shaped because of the time you were given to endure or persevere?
“Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself"
Psalms 4:1-8
David sings of a tension that exists in our relationship with God. We all love having a Savior. We love having someone who is powerful we can call on when we need help. The question is do we also want a Lord and a covenant relationship with our Creator. When we are in a bad spot and having a hard time; we need God. David tells God to answer Him when he calls. What he is really saying is answer me now because I don't want to wait any longer. David is frustrated with God's timing. Have you ever said that to God? Have you said Lord you are taking too long?
God has a challenging response. He does not answer David's statement with a direct answer. Rather He answers a question with a question. God asks David about the timing of their hearts turning. God always brings the conversation back to our hearts. Faith requires that we trust God and are devoted first. The timing of the order of operations matters to God. You see the same patterns when God evaluates giving. He says give me your firstfruits. There was a reason that Abel's offering was acceptable and Cain's was not. Timing matters. In this psalm, David recounts how God questions how long it will take for people to turn to Him.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them...my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it. Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you...whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Proverbs 1:1-7, 10, 13-16, 19-20, 22-23, 31, 33
Time is a relative concept. When we use words like the beginning that is always in relation to our understanding of when something began. In the book of John, it is written that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. God vantage point and perspective on timing is very different than our own. We enter into the expanse of space and time in the midst of an already ongoing and unfolding of moment in God's overall plan. Solomon says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. He is pointing to the time when a person will start the process of learning something God already knows. This word for fear does not imply terror rather it refers to reverence. How does taking the time to acknowledge that God's ways and perspectives are higher help start the process of you receiving the inheritance of wisdom that God has for you?
Wisdom calls out a timing question to the people who are rebellious or will not listen to God. Repeatedly, wisdom asks how long. How much time will you waste searching for meaning in other places or pursue temporary gains over eternal glory. How do you respond to that call? Is there any area in your life where you have been waiting to submit fully or surrender your life fully to Jesus?
“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes...Who can be compared with you in majesty? So it towered higher than all the trees of the field; its boughs increased and its branches grew long, spreading because of abundant waters. It was majestic in beauty, with its spreading boughs, for its roots went down to abundant waters...this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height, I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations"
Ezekiel 31:2, 5, 7, 9-11, 17
One of the hardest challenges people can face is to see honestly how times of pride can harm relationships. God calls out the Pharaoh for being proud. Repeatedly God sent messengers to warn the leaders to do what is right and respect the Almighty. God made the Pharaoh to have a time where he ruled the land, but the Pharoah did not take time to acknowledge that what he had was a gift. One of the truths of being human is that the time will come for all people who are powerful to be put in their place.
We might not be a pharaoh or a president, but we will have times where we face the same temptation to make our lives about us. Times of pride affect us all. We like control. We want to be in charge of what we do and when we do it. Jesus said those who lose their lives will find it. He says blessed are the poor in spirit. How could you grow in humility so that you can use the time you have to grow closer to God rather than go down the perilous path that comes from pride?
“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you...I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people...Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord...I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.””
2 Corinthians 6:1-3, 14, 16-18
It is amazing how the words of Paul that were written and shared two thousand years ago can be as relevant today as they were back then. Paul was addressing the people who were trying to make sense of the times they were living in and understand how to live for Jesus. What advice did Paul have? He said that the time you have is a gift. Don't waste it. Don't take the time you have and the grace you have received in vain. Do we not do this every time we choose to live for ourselves rather than doing what Jesus taught us to do? Don't we do this every time we choose offense, apathy, or unforgiveness? How much time in your life has been wasted over arguments, anger, or issues that came from pride, pursuing sin, or because you were impatient?
Paul says clear the path to help people get to Jesus. He says don't try to fix people, let Jesus do the heavy lifting. He says be careful of who you spend your time with because bird of a feather flock together. If you spend your time with people who do not believe in Jesus then you will find yourself connected to people who do things that Jesus would not do. Paul says learn to separate yourself and embrace the truth that today is the day of salvation. The time is now. If you see the present day as a gift you will more likely turn to God. You will have a heart of gratitude and humility. You will be open to respond to God's call and serving Him with all that you do. What will you do with the time you have been given? Will you let your time be in vain or will you see it as a gift and turn to the one who gave you life?