In Time

This week I watched a movie with my daughter Hannah called "In Time". It was set in a future time when people no longer age, so to avoid over-population each person is allocated only 25 years of life. As a result, time - days, months, years, becomes the currency they use to buy, travel, and do life. Each choice costs them, or gains them time.

It was a really unique story line, and got me thinking about the choices we make with our time. In Hebrews 9:27 we see that we are all "destined to die once and after that to face judgment". There is no do-over. How are we doing with the days, weeks, and years God has allocated to us?

In God’s Time

TIME happens. In this movie everyone was obviously and understandably consumed with getting more time. In the process they never fully lived the moments in front of them. I think the same is so true about us. I have a weird habit of always thinking about where I am going next and I never fully live or experience the moment I am in. Stop watching the clock and start living your life fully present where you are right now. It involves both being content and being able to focus.

I will never forget when my daughter Hannah was around three years old. She wanted to ‘talk’ to her daddy and was trying to get my attention. I was a brand new Christian going to Seminary, I had a full time job, and was starting a business. Needless to say 'busy' was an understatement. I was so busy I was missing the most important thing right in front of me. I don't remember what was so urgent at the time, but I do remember my little baby girl taking her little hands and putting them on my cheeks and turning my face toward hers. She said so innocently but so profoundly, "daddy can you look at me when I am talking". Focus involves tuning out other things and being present in the moment. Being present involves looking, listening and engaging.

INVESTMENT happens. In the movie, people were only invested in their own lives. Their investment was made through stealing, grabbing, and getting what they could to live longer. One guy had around 100 years and yet was still completely unhappy. What would it take to make you happy? more time?

Ephesians 5:16 tells us to "make the most of every opportunity...". To invest wisely we to think intentionally. Isnt it true that often we find ourselves being reactive instead of being proactive. We are constantly trying to fix people, fix problems, and respond to issues.

There is often a tension between what is urgent and what is important. I am learning to discover and discern what is important, more than what is urgent. Urgent things happen every day. But I think that the "urgent" is often about what people want me to do, and the important is what God wants me to do. As a dad that is approaching the whole empty nest thing, I can tell you the time I invest in my children is so important. Are you giving your time away or investing it? Do people lead our time, or do we lead it? Am I making a difference, or just treading water? Am I being purposeful, or just existing? You have this one life. Invest in what will outlive you. One of the ways I prioritize is to ask "will this matter 100 years from now?”. It is not the only thing that matters, but it is one good filter for deciding what is truly important as opposed to what seems urgent.

MISTAKES happen. In the movie, people stole time from each other. In our lives, it is satan who steals your time. Our past mistakes often become the reason we don't try, we don't care, or we don't get up in the morning.

The Bible says, "God's mercies are new every morning". (Lamentations 3:23). We are not running on yesterday’s blessings. Please for the sake of your one life and for the sake of your God, get up, do something, love someone, and don't get stuck in the mistake of yesterday. This weekend we learned from a church in Revelation that was lukewarm. In Revelation 3:19 Jesus simply says "Turn from your indifference".

Mistakes steal our time, because the enemy uses our mistakes to prevent us from living in God's grace and presence. To turn means to repent. To turn means to walk in a different direction. He doesn't say: “turn and keep looking back”, or “turn and realize what an idiot you are”, or “turn and know you failed”, just “turn”. Just “walk in a different direction”. That direction is always away from the past, and toward Jesus.

The very next verse says, "I stand at the door and knock, and whoever opens it, I will come in and we will share a meal as friends" (Revelation 3:20). Failure and sin often catalyze indifference in our walk with Jesus. Why? Because we think he is going to be mad, or punish us, or give up on us. But it’s just the opposite. He wants to come in and share a meal. That is a first century offer of intimacy, usually only close friends would share meals together.

That is what Jesus wants. The mess of our mistakes can turn into the message of God's indescribable favor, love and grace. Open the door. He is knocking. He longs to be with YOU. Spend time with your savior and friend.

ETERNITY happens. In the movie (as would be expected) there is no mention of an after-life, and no mention of eternity. No focus on that at all. In fact, a few times a person that had "expired" would be just lying on the ground. The reality is we are eternal beings. We are created in the image of God, and made for relationship with him. In our series RECONCILED, we have been learning about what it means to reconcile, and to be reconciled.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says "God has planted eternity in our hearts". I love this, and more than searching for ways to extend our lives, as in the movie, we need to spend time preparing for what's to come. Jesus said in John 14:2, "...I am going to prepare a place for you". Eternity is real. It matters, for everyone. We have been given the message of reconciliation. God made a way. Jesus is the key to the world being reconciled. The ministry of reconciliation is that we live like Jesus and be like Jesus so that people will see only Jesus.

Our lives ultimately have to be eternity focused. 2 Corinthians 4:18 has been a key verse in my life: "So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." If we live for today, for the things we want, and for worldly success, we will miss the bigger picture. God is reconciling us to himself so that we may spend eternity with Him.

Let's not miss what is MOST important for eternity, in the midst of what "seems" so urgent today.

Pastor John

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