Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
As we have passed through the portal of another new year we find ourselves confronted with a subject that has left many philosophical and scientific minds dumbfounded: the subject of time? It’s a subject that challenges us to examine how we are spending the lives we’ve been given and it forces us to admit our mortality. I dare ask the question: what is time?
According to the Cambridge dictionary time is the part of existence that is measured in minutes, days, years, etc., or this process considered as a whole. An article on Psychologytoday.com explains the subject this way: “The concept of time can both be obvious and confusing. Consider, for example, one aspect of time that is particularly vexing: Our perception that it moves only in one direction. Quantum physics, however, suggests that the flow of time could be in both directions -forward and backward – with equal plausibility. Einstein’s famous quote, “The only purpose of time is to prevent everything from happening at once,” sheds some light on the problem. Is time just a framework that prevents all events from happening simultaneously? Or is time a thing, like a particle, in which the past, present, and future are all equally real?”
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote of his venture to discover the meaning of life. After indulging in just about whatever pleasure he desired (2:2) and concluding that those who have died are more fortunate than those who are living (4:2) he began his final chapter with the following: Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”; before the sun and the light, and the moon and the stars are darkened [by impaired vision], and the clouds [of depression] return after the rain [of tears]; in the day when the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) bow themselves, and the grinders (molar teeth) cease because they are few, and those (eyes) who look through the windows grow dim; when the doors (lips) are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises at the sound of a bird and the crowing of a rooster, and all the daughters of music (voice, ears) sing softly. Furthermore, they are afraid of a high place and of dangers on the road; the almond tree (hair) blossoms [white], and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and the caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets and market places. Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).” 12:1-8 AMP
However, we define time, Solomon made it clear that it is a limited supply provided to us before eternity. This may be why his father, David, prayed “So teach us to number our days, that we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12. To me, time is the opportunity given to grow in our knowledge of God through experience. It is the privilege granted to chisel a character of holiness out of the lump of mud caused by sin. It’s the vehicle needed for us to learn the joy of deep love and feel the sting of pain with the hope of being led to trust in the compassionate character and principles of the loving God.
To conclude I would like to highlight the last two verses in Ecclesiastes. Solomon finishes with a sobering thought: “When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.” He makes it clear that our time will eventually expire and we each will give an account to the One who is before and beyond time and how we managed his resources. The time is always now to choose to yield to God.