Lost Time
Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying "Time lost cannot be found again" and this is true, even as one also considers that in this fast paced world, finding time to begin with is a hassle. As early as morning comes it goes so that at nightfall there are many bullets on the to-do-list left unchecked. We figure, "I can do this tomorrow" but one of the greatest disappoints in life is the tomorrow that never comes.
Tomorrow is too late to say "I love you," "I'm sorry" or "I forgive you," to someone who has departed this world in the blink of an eye. Maybe our childhood lessons on punctuality were not only about maintaining a schedule but about making the most of every opportunity.
There are only twenty-four hours in a day: time to sleep, eat, toilet, study or work, and travel to destinations; somewhere in between there is making time for loved ones, extracurricular activities and ministry. If we are but an hour behind in our schedule some things on the itinerary will be postponed, cancelled, or simply forgotten; because, each day brings new demands on our time.
Opportune Time
Last evening, I watched a Hallmark movie entitled "A Family for Christmas" wherein a career-driven Hannah was given the opportunity to walk a path she gave up ten years ago. In this alternate reality Hannah led a quiet life married to her long-time boyfriend with whom she had two young daughters.
Hannah still longed for a career in journalism but soon learned that success was not complete without making meaningful connections. With this realization she wanted to exchange her reality for the alternate; but her Santa "of Christmas Hope" explained that the point of her time travel was not to change the past but to change the future.
Hannah got the hint and reconnected with her old boyfriend and though the movie ended without any indication on whether they married and had children, the lesson gained is: We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we can make the most of today.
It is easy to conjure up in our minds an alternate reality of what life would be like if we made different choices but time is forward ever and never backward. With each new day there is always an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and make wiser decisions which will positively affect our tomorrow.
Time Travel
From birth till death we move from morning until morning from consciousness to subconsciousness, to eventual unconsciousness. Men have visions and dreams of what is to come, our memories remind us of what has happened, and histories have been written to account for the lives of our ancestors. Still, there has been no human being who has travelled to the future or to the past and returned to testify of this feat.
The notion of time travel is intriguing to the mind because it seems out of our reach.
Thus movies like Back to the Future and The Time Traveller's Wife, and TV shows like Star Trek, DC Legends of Tomorrow and The Flash satisfy a fantasy, and for some fuel hope that maybe one day like the aeroplane, the cellular phone, and the internet, fantasy will become reality.
Most of what we learn about time travel comes from the imagination of screenwriters and what is common in most plots is that time travel occurs in an advanced world of technology and science, and more often than not it is stumbled upon. But what stands out the most is that: changing the timeline can introduce unwanted realities beyond our control.
What would you do if you could change the hands of time? I think of Nicodemus and his encounter with Jesus one night. Here was a religious teacher stumped by Jesus telling him "Ye must be born again" (John chapter 3 verse 3). Nicodemus thought that he had to reset his life by becoming a baby again. What an opportunity to get a fresh start at life! Even so, Nicodemus would still have to contend with the human problem of sin.
If the hands of time were to turn back, they should stop just before Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Maybe then there would be no conflicts, frailties, pain or suffering – no death! Some believers wonder why God did not replace Eve, or even wipe out creation and start all over again. But someone told me years ago, "We would never understand true love." Christ's salvation was his mercy and grace extended to a race that could not save themselves from the consequences of their sin – guilt, separation, and death.
Saving Time
On our own we cannot change time but we sure can save time by surrendering our lives to the Author of Time. The Lord has a plan for each and every one of his creation and that is to know him and to experience his love and forgiveness. We might not have had a great beginning, but Christ offers a glorious end to all who accept and receive his salvation.
What is beautiful about this plan is that it was forged even before the foundations of this world. As Creator, the Lord knows all things and so he makes provision for us when we mess up. All we need to do is confess our need of him. There is no day like the present to make a meaningful connection which will last throughout eternity.
Janine Williams is a theology student, passionate about the word of God which is powerful to transform the lives of individuals and nations.
Janine Williams' previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/janine-williams.html