Folk singer Jim Croce wrote about time in a love song using these phrases: “If I could save time in a bottle … If I could make days last forever …But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do…” Oh, how we would like to bottle up time, make it last forever, and always have enough of it to do what we want. What a dream.
But since we don’t live in a land of dreams and “ifs” we need to reckon time as it really is: a passing commodity which can never be bottled, stopped, or replayed. We get accustomed to thinking we can control time. But when I miss a play at a high school football game I remember I’m no longer in my remote control environment. The play is gone. Similarly, we can’t get back moments we missed with our kids, spouses, or dear friends. When we pass up a chance to do a good deed, that opportunity is gone. We are reminded of the need to use time well.
From Christ we have the model and the power to do that. While on earth he spent his time doing good for others, visiting his Father in prayer, and having fellowship with friends. These are healthy uses of time which bless us and others. He gives us the power to use time well by giving us eternity and all other blessings. Since we have all things already, including eternity there is no need to cling to life with selfish living. Since we are sanctified by His blood and Spirit there is no motive to trivialize time by the pursuit of meaningless activity.
Thankfully, we don’t have to save time in a bottle. It already will last forever. And while it seems that there is never enough time to do what we want in this life, there is enough time to do what He wants us to do. We need only ask him what that is. Our times are in his hands. He knows how much of it we have left and how best to use it.
Pastor Tom
