We live in somewhat of a unique area of our town. We are situated between 2 schools and between 2 long-established churches. Built before Wisconsin became a state, one church has its original bell announcing the time and calling the parishoners to worship. The other blesses us with chimes of wonderful, old hymns on Sunday mornings as we are preparing to leave to go to our church.
In days gone by, a church bell or clock tower in the town square was the only means many people had to mark time. Today, most people in our culture are driven by time. From the annoying noise that wakes us each morning, to entering our arrival at work, to appointment reminders in our calendars, we have almost become slaves to the clock.
How do we mark the times of our lives? We all have memories of special times - birthdays, holidays and vacations from our childhood and our adult years. My just-about-grown children like to joke that Mom was born when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Not quite, but I was born in the United States in the 1960s.
In the late '70s, our family moved to England, where I lived for 8 years before returning to the U.S. Some of my best vacation memories were made during that time. We would often go to the country of Wales for a day trip or for a few days (England is very tiny. Going to Wales was like going from the town in Wisconsin where I live now to a town next door in Minnesota - a relatively short drive).
The clock in the picture above is from one of the Welsh towns we visited several times. My best attempt to pronounce the name of that town is something like "Betsy Co-id."
Betws-y-Coed is a picturesque little town, situated at the entrance to Snowdonia National Park. Surrounded by waterfalls and ancient bridges (one built in the 1400s), its not surprising that artists have flocked there to try to capture the breathtaking scenery on canvas since Victorian times.
The vacations enjoyed with my parents and brothers in the late '70s and into the '80s seem long ago and far away. Memories made on trips with my own children are more fresh in my mind but someday, those will seem long ago and far away too.
Time has brought change to places like Betws-y-Coed. Time has changed the town I live in here in the U.S. Time has changed your town.
Changes have also happened in your life over time and in mine. I'm very thankful for the change God has worked in my life over the years. My testimony is the story of the grace and mercy of God poured out on an undeserving prodigal preacher's kid.
If you know Christ as your Savior, you can testify of the change He has made in your life over time. Salvation is instant - repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ - and you will be saved, the Bible says. Some things often change the moment a person comes to faith. Other changes take place over time as the Lord develops our character and the fruit of the Spirit is expressed through our lives.
Think back to where you were a year ago or 10 years ago. How much has time changed you? Can you recall specific times when God has been at work to shape you and mold you into the image of Christ?
God has a lot to say about time. The passage with with we are most familiar is found in Ecclesiastes 3:
"To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose
under the heaven" (v1)
God has a purpose for the times and seasons we experience. It has been said that time marches on. It does, but it is all under God's control. God knows the "end from the beginning" (Isa 46:10. How? Because He Himself has no beginning and no end (Heb 7:3).
Think about this for a moment...
As the Sovereign Creator of the universe, God is not constrained by time as we are. Yet, He created time. Genesis 1 tells us that He created night and day, and put the sun and moon in the sky "for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (v14).
Everything God does for His creation (you and me) is ultimately for our good and His glory.
Ecclesiastes said there is a time:
- to be born & to die
- to plant & to reap
- to kill & to heal
- to break down & to build up
- to weep & to laugh
- to mourn & to dance
- to keep silent & to speak
- etc
So, why would the God Who is not limited by space and time create time? I think He created time for our benefit.
At this point you might be thinking, "OK, Ann-Louise. You'd better explain that one."
We're getting there...
You and I have limited understanding, not only of the world around us, but even more limited understanding of the "depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God" (Romans 11:33).
Without time, how would we even begin to understand that God knows the "end from the beginning"? Without time, how would we grasp the glorious truth of Galatians 4:4?
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son..."
The Father sent His Son...when? Exactly at the right time.
The concept of eternal life is one that we believers think we understand and do, to a degree. The thought of being forever in God's presence is a reason for rejoicing and a reason to live for Him. If God had not appointed signs, seasons, days and years, the idea of forever wouldn't mean much to us at all.
God also created the sun and moon so we would know when it is time to rest. He created us humans to need rest. Hebrews 4 remind us that when God created the world, He rested from His works on the 7th day.
Then the writer says, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."(Hebrews 4:9) Bear in mind that this was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, just as the rest of the Word of God was.
This "rest" isn't a nap. The context seems to indicate this rest is one of the blessings of heaven. Now I don't think for a moment we'll be in lounge chairs sipping cokes by the side of some heavenly pool. But, "he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:10)
Have you ever come home after a long day at work and just slumped into a chair with a sigh, glad to be home? When we get to heaven, we won't be laboring as we have here on earth. Yes, we'll have God-appointed tasks to carry out, but those will not seem laborious, nor will they tire us.
All of the signs, seasons, days and years that God created point to THAT TIME.
Time is indeed marching on, marching closer and closer to THAT DAY.
Long ago, God used signs, season, days and years to show us that His Son, our Redeemer, was coming. He came " when the fulness of the time was come."
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son..."(Hebrews 1:1)
Now God is using signs, seasons, days and years to show us that His Son will soon return to bring us into His rest. Take a look at the signs Jesus said would be the precursor to His return in Matthew 24. Most of them are already in place.
The title of this post asks the question, "What time is it?"
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12)
All of the signs, seasons, days and years are coming to an end.
Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready?
It is time to seek the Lord.
It is time. If you don't know if you're ready to meet Jesus, don't wait.
Visit peacewithgod.net to find out how you can be ready.
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