“God has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
In this familiar passage, the wisdom writer reminds us that there is a proper time for everything. It’s important for us to discern the time we are living in so that we know how we should act. It’s pointless to plant seeds when they have no access to water. We’re out of step if we mourn at a wedding or rearrange the furniture just before we move.
Some times are harder to figure out. Halfway through a long explanation, we may suddenly notice that others have stopped listening and are impatient to chime in. We belatedly realize it should have been our “time for silence.”
In his precious time apart with the Twelve (Luke 9:18-22), Jesus invited his friends to reflect on the time in which they were living— and the One they were living with. In response to his question, they affirmed him as the long-awaited Messiah. The Eternal had broken into their world, and nothing would ever be the same for humankind.
However, the disciples might easily have come to the wrong conclusion. Many of them would have loved to be living in the time of God’s triumph and victory. But they had to come to grips with the fact that Jesus’ road to glory needed to pass through Calvary. For them and for their Messiah, it was a time of suffering.
It was also a time for choice. What did they believe about Jesus? Were they willing to follow their Master all the way to the cross, even if it meant setting aside not only their personal ambitions but their cherished notions of the way things ought to be?
We often feel jarred when we feel a difference between our expectations and what is actually happening around us. At times like these, it’s especially important to come aside and spend time reflecting with Jesus. When we get a clearer focus on the time in which we are living, we can learn how to respond appropriately. Jesus will always help us keep the Timeless in view.
“Jesus, you are the Lord of the past and the future. Help me stay close to you in this present time of opportunity.”
Psalm 144:1-4; Luke 9:18-22