The Tricks of Time
As summer slowly spills into autumn, the deficit of each day is not easily detectable as summer festivities continue well into September. However, the warm breath of summer doesn’t last forever as cooler air and the whisper of crickets unmask the changing season. Similar to our lives, it isn’t until something is tangible, felt, or experienced where we can benchmark significant moments in our lives and the change that it brings. Time pours into days, days into years, and years into the rest of your life. Whether we are ready or not, life happens. People change. Things change. With life, comes its ally- time, both working together simultaneously in a race with no real finish line. Truthfully, it can be a scary thought and trusting the Lord through the passages of time and all of its ruts may seem like it is impossible, daunting, or even disheartening. Has God forgotten me? Does He even hear my cry? God will never, ever give up on us, and promises to walk in our pain as a Comforter but also a Saviour and Rescuer. We are made new in Christ but still live in a fallen world where pain and sorrow have a face that looks back at us every day. Take courage! We can be sure to stand on the Word of God to carry us through the tricks of time. Something steadfast, something pure. Nothing has ever been so good.
Something that should bring us comfort in the invasion of time is the grace that is offered to us allowing us to rest in Christ and in His faithfulness. 1 John 2:17 tells us,
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
And again in Jeremiah 29:11,
“For I know the plans I have for you,” Declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and hope and a future.”
As believers in Jesus Christ, we have victory over this life and the troubles that come our way no matter the outcome. We may have plans but the Lord guides our steps. God is forever steadfast and His word does not come back void or counterfeit. The promises He has spoken are for us forever. In Psalm 90:4, Moses captures God’s essence of time by saying, “For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” Meaning, God’s perspective of time is not measured by our finite comprehension but rather it is outside the sphere of time. He knows the past, the present and the future and has already provided an escape to your problem that glorifies Him as James states,
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,” James 1: 2-8).
Faith is such an important aspect to God as everything is in high relevance to it and can be best summarized in Hebrews:
“It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him,” (Hebrews 11:6).
Even though time changes things, not all of it has an adverse effect. It is important to make good use of the time we have here on Earth. When Jesus walked the Earth, the majority of His days was spent loving and teaching people. As believers, we have a calling to mirror this same image.
And so we leave you with this Word,
“So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is,” (Ephesians 5:15-17).
