We have an age old problem, don't we? We never seem to have enough time. Time is an essential resource that governs everything we do. We consider time so fundamental that we assign its measurement to sophisticated atomic clocks. Yet though we're well into the 21st century, we still have no effective means to save, store or extend it. Time ticks away, whether we like it or not, until our precious reservoir runs dry. Then, life as we know it, is over.
How can something as pleasant as life, be ruled by something as cruel as time? The Bible says time is not a mistake. In fact, God considered it to be ideal, in the beginning. Most of us recall the words that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). God designated the beginning as the point at which he set up everything in heaven and on earth. From that point onwards, time existed. God went on to establish light, the universe, fish, birds, animals, and of course us. When he reviewed everything, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). The key here is that "very good" in ancient Hebrew means things were perfect. So nothing needed any improvement. Not even time.
So when did things fall apart? Not long after the creation. By then, "the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed" (Genesis 2:8). Sadly, Adam refused to live according to God's instructions. As a consequence, "the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken" (Genesis 3:23). But things soon became much worse! God said "Cursed is the ground because of you; ... it will produce thorns and thistles for you" (Genesis 3:17, 18) Even today this curse adversely affects everything we do. Outside of God's care in his perfect garden, work efforts are hindered. God says, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19). Things are difficult now. We cannot get as much done. Everything is hard work. Finally, death awaits us when time runs out.
Thankfully, that is not the whole story. God plans to restore his universe to its former glory. Because of his great love for us, he wants us there with him. He has already sent Jesus to start the rescue. Jesus lived and died and rose to life again, in full and final payment for mankind's rebellion. As a result, our original friendship with God can be restored. Take a moment to read about it in Romans chapter 5. Soon, in a remarkable way, God will use the thing we fear the most, death, to bring new life. Just as we pass away, this present heaven and earth has an expiry date. John saw in a vision there will be "a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away" (Revelation 21:1). Just as there is an afterlife for us, a perfect new heaven and new earth will rise from the ashes too, but this time without the curse.
What implications are there for time? Will it affect things in heaven? Will we even do anything in heaven? The Bible says, "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). Now nothing says we cease to be God's workmanship or stop doing marvellous works when we reach heaven. But everything will be hugely different. For the first time, unhindered by the curse, we'll experience the pleasure of wholesome and rewarding accomplishment. Imagine the satisfaction of unrestrainedly completing all we seek to achieve. Teamwork will be a delight, unimpeded by glitches and poor communication. Individual responsibilities will freely benefit from our full and passionate attention. Perhaps we'll be able to deliver extravagantly like the master craftsmen and women of old.
Surely, welcome news like that is widely received and understood, right? Actually, many misunderstand the importance of time to God and his universe. A common quote is "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." (2 Peter 3:8). This does not indicate time to be irrelevant. Instead it reveals God's patience and decisiveness. He doesn't want anyone to perish, yet can still be trusted to deliver judgment day. It's not a description of what we can expect in the new earth. Not surprisingly there is someone with a vested interest in confusing the issue. Try as he might to ignore it, the devil is scheduled to be "thrown into the lake of burning sulfur ... for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). He will leave no stone unturned to mislead us into believing eternity is a timeless wasteland. Because without time, just about everything we understand would be unbearable. For example, what if nothing had a beginning? Imagine never attending another party or concert because nothing ever started. Imagine never meeting a new friend. Or worse, what if nothing ever ended? Imagine a life playing a harp (pick your pleasure), forever. Time allows for fresh beginnings and change. Time itself is not the enemy.
What is time like in heaven? Much like it is now, only without limitations. The Bible has many references that show how time operates. First, John records that, "there was silence in heaven for about half an hour" (Revelation 8:1). Half an hour is a period of time. Also, the martyrs "called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" ... and they were told to wait a little longer" (Revelation 6:10-11). The requirement to wait presumes a finish time. That point is reached upon announcement in heaven that, "the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe" (Revelation 14:14). For a more concrete reference to time, we need only consider the description of the tree of life. It produces "twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month" (Revelation 22:2). Our future paradise clearly operates by a regular and timely schedule. We can look forward to a comforting and dependable rhythm of life.
The answer to not having enough time is clear. Eternity will provide a rich and inexhaustible supply. Though life here is spoiled and thwarted by the curse, life in the new earth will provide an abundance of opportunity, success and fulfillment. We'll finally have time to shine.
How can something as pleasant as life, be ruled by something as cruel as time? The Bible says time is not a mistake. In fact, God considered it to be ideal, in the beginning. Most of us recall the words that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). God designated the beginning as the point at which he set up everything in heaven and on earth. From that point onwards, time existed. God went on to establish light, the universe, fish, birds, animals, and of course us. When he reviewed everything, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). The key here is that "very good" in ancient Hebrew means things were perfect. So nothing needed any improvement. Not even time.
So when did things fall apart? Not long after the creation. By then, "the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed" (Genesis 2:8). Sadly, Adam refused to live according to God's instructions. As a consequence, "the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken" (Genesis 3:23). But things soon became much worse! God said "Cursed is the ground because of you; ... it will produce thorns and thistles for you" (Genesis 3:17, 18) Even today this curse adversely affects everything we do. Outside of God's care in his perfect garden, work efforts are hindered. God says, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19). Things are difficult now. We cannot get as much done. Everything is hard work. Finally, death awaits us when time runs out.
Thankfully, that is not the whole story. God plans to restore his universe to its former glory. Because of his great love for us, he wants us there with him. He has already sent Jesus to start the rescue. Jesus lived and died and rose to life again, in full and final payment for mankind's rebellion. As a result, our original friendship with God can be restored. Take a moment to read about it in Romans chapter 5. Soon, in a remarkable way, God will use the thing we fear the most, death, to bring new life. Just as we pass away, this present heaven and earth has an expiry date. John saw in a vision there will be "a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away" (Revelation 21:1). Just as there is an afterlife for us, a perfect new heaven and new earth will rise from the ashes too, but this time without the curse.
What implications are there for time? Will it affect things in heaven? Will we even do anything in heaven? The Bible says, "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). Now nothing says we cease to be God's workmanship or stop doing marvellous works when we reach heaven. But everything will be hugely different. For the first time, unhindered by the curse, we'll experience the pleasure of wholesome and rewarding accomplishment. Imagine the satisfaction of unrestrainedly completing all we seek to achieve. Teamwork will be a delight, unimpeded by glitches and poor communication. Individual responsibilities will freely benefit from our full and passionate attention. Perhaps we'll be able to deliver extravagantly like the master craftsmen and women of old.
Surely, welcome news like that is widely received and understood, right? Actually, many misunderstand the importance of time to God and his universe. A common quote is "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." (2 Peter 3:8). This does not indicate time to be irrelevant. Instead it reveals God's patience and decisiveness. He doesn't want anyone to perish, yet can still be trusted to deliver judgment day. It's not a description of what we can expect in the new earth. Not surprisingly there is someone with a vested interest in confusing the issue. Try as he might to ignore it, the devil is scheduled to be "thrown into the lake of burning sulfur ... for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). He will leave no stone unturned to mislead us into believing eternity is a timeless wasteland. Because without time, just about everything we understand would be unbearable. For example, what if nothing had a beginning? Imagine never attending another party or concert because nothing ever started. Imagine never meeting a new friend. Or worse, what if nothing ever ended? Imagine a life playing a harp (pick your pleasure), forever. Time allows for fresh beginnings and change. Time itself is not the enemy.
What is time like in heaven? Much like it is now, only without limitations. The Bible has many references that show how time operates. First, John records that, "there was silence in heaven for about half an hour" (Revelation 8:1). Half an hour is a period of time. Also, the martyrs "called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" ... and they were told to wait a little longer" (Revelation 6:10-11). The requirement to wait presumes a finish time. That point is reached upon announcement in heaven that, "the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe" (Revelation 14:14). For a more concrete reference to time, we need only consider the description of the tree of life. It produces "twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month" (Revelation 22:2). Our future paradise clearly operates by a regular and timely schedule. We can look forward to a comforting and dependable rhythm of life.
The answer to not having enough time is clear. Eternity will provide a rich and inexhaustible supply. Though life here is spoiled and thwarted by the curse, life in the new earth will provide an abundance of opportunity, success and fulfillment. We'll finally have time to shine.
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Why settle for an eternity in a halo? Explore the heaven you always longed for. Investigate the afterlife without a medium. Uncover heavenly things they don't teach at school.
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