time
a poem about the passing of time
i’m watching the clock tick every second going by a reminder of the moments lost in the depths of time so little hours in the day so fast a journey to the night i get on my knees and pray: “i want to live this day right help me to make the most of time lead me to seek first your face let your words fill up my mind as every hour is full of your grace” as the clock goes round and round so my thoughts of time do as the ticking makes its sound i'll seek to spend my time with you
About
The concept of the passing of time has been on my mind a lot lately.
One of the lessons grief teaches is how limited and precious time is. The space between the idea we have in our heads of how much time we have and the amount of time we actually do can be a dark and confusing place. The brevity of time leads to a deeper place of reflection on and consideration of how to spend it.
Scripture encourages us to take care to make the most our time by spending it wisely. Wisdom is found in the fear (or in others words, the reverence) of the Lord and the search to understand his will and live in alignment with it.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Proverbs 9:10
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15-17
Even the longest of lives by earthly standards are in actuality not that long at all. According to Scripture, our lives are like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Tomorrow is not promised to bring us anything. As James puts it:
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:13-15
As we are limited by and bound within the confines of earthly time, God is not. He transcends (exists beyond, above and is unlimited by) time and was the one who created time itself. Because he is El Olam (“The Everlasting God”), he oversees and is knowledgeable of all points of time, from the past to the present to the future and beyond.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
Psalm 90:2-4
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2 Peter 3:8
Because God transcends time, he is sovereign over it. Every second we get falls under his holy, sovereign will. He allocates all of our days and fixes times and seasons for our lives.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven
Ecclesiastes 3:1
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”
Acts 1:7
Our response to the brevity of time is to seek to spend it in accordance with the Word and will of the one who transcends it. He is the one who guides our steps and directs our paths as we place our trust in him. He is with us in every moment of the earthly time allotted for us until we enter into eternity with him in heaven.
Prayer
Lord,
We are grateful for the time you have graced us to have. Help us to make the most of the time you have allotted for us. Lead us to live in accordance with your will in every season fixed by your sovereign authority. Teach us to spend our time wisely, in ways that bring glory to you.
Amen.