Squandering money tends to get people's attention, especially if government funds have been misspent. When time, talents and opportunities are wasted, it’s accepted as a common occurrence. among us. We may see others as guilty, but not ourselves when it comes to wasting time, money or opportunities.
Ed, my old neighbour in Saskatchewan, gets distressed about how technology consumes his children and grandchildren’s time. Ed agrees a cellphone can be a helpful device, but phones, tablets, computers and video games consume everyone’s time in his family. Their use of technology is an integral part of their relationships, security and identity. Members of his family are lost without their devices.
I tell Ed we all struggle to manage our time wisely. For many people, jobs eat up to 40 or more hours in a week. That leaves about 128 hours for family, leisure, eating, sleeping and travel. For some, one hour or slightly more is God’s time at a church service in a week. Many may feel time is theirs to spend as they see fit. People do think in terms of time well spent and time wasted. How much of our time do we fritter away or waste?
Easter reminds us that time belongs to God and that we are not totally in control of how we spend our time. In the resurrection of Jesus, His life was restored, and God was victorious over death. God broke the power of death to hold the dead. Death is a destroyer of life, but it is not permanent.
Jesus was dead in his tomb, but on the third day, He arose from the dead. At God’s appointed time, He gives life over death.
Most recognize it is wise to number our days as death can tap us on the shoulder at any time because of the pandemic. Death plays tag with us always, but in war and pandemic times, many more folks get caught.
The resurrection of Jesus helps us focus on the truth that time is always leading to something more. It wasn’t just that Jesus was alive from the dead, but he arose bodily from Earth into heaven in a short amount of days. (Acts 1:7-11)
Christ’s ascension from Earth was with the promise that Christ will come back the same way he left Earth. Like the apostles, believers in Jesus are to be His witnesses until he returns. We know Jesus will return but not when. (Matthew 24:36) states, “But of that day and hour, no one knows, neither the angels of heaven nor the Son, but the Father alone.”
Since Christ is coming to Earth to gather those that love him to Himself, it is our opportunity to see all of our time as God’s time. Everything is God’s time, our work time, family time, leisure time, etc. How easily we ignore God or limit Him to church time. Our relationship, security, and identity may not be with God but with our time devoted to other things. If we ask God, the Holy Spirit will help us witness of Jesus by living an integral part of our time in forgiveness, love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness and self-control. These embody Christ.
