Time is of the Essence

Many times in my career I helped formulate contracts that included the legal phrase, “time is of the essence.”  From a legal and contractual standpoint “time is of the essence” referred to the necessity of all parties to complete their obligations on time. And this is critical if all parties are to be satisfied with the outcome of the agreement. 

In our walk with Christ, time is also of the essence, but unlike a contract obligating all parties to perform, the obligation falls strictly on us and not on Christ. Time has a beginning and an end and is a creation of God who transcends time, because God is infinite. Basically this means that God is never “on the clock.”  There are no calendars in heaven, or seasons; the sun does not rise and set over God’s throne, for God is always in the present.  In fact, when God named himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 he simply stated, “I AM WHO I AM.”  God is. 

For our part, however, and in this life, we are constrained by time.  We are born, we live and we die, and only then our eternal selves are no longer slaves to time.  For some, this means an eternity without God, but for others, it means the never-ending joy of God’s company.  The reason why time is important to us is because, like any other commodity, it is limited, and not only that, but once time has passed, we cannot retrieve it.  Time is not sustainable or recyclable.  In this life, where we are restricted by each new day, it is vital that we spend as much time as possible pleasing God.  Our purpose on earth is not to eat, drink and be merry, or even have a career or family, but to know God.  And that period of opportunity is only available in this life.

When we are young, we often think we have our “whole lives” ahead of us; but while this is normal, it is not guaranteed.  Our life is precious in that we have only a short period to know and love God, to be reconciled to him and to spend eternity with him.  And that time is not given to us in decades or even months, but in every single day when we wake up.  Even then, after waking up and stumbling to the coffee maker, there is no guarantee that death will not meet us by 5:00 p.m.

Outside my office window I have full view of a local funeral home.  More often than not when I gaze out and onto their parking lot, it is filled with vehicles.  Once again, someone in the community has died and their life on earth is literally over.  It has been said that “Time is on our side,” but it is not on the side of the Christian.  The opportunity to voluntarily love and serve the Author of Life is limited.  Understanding this should encourage us to take time each day an seek the face of God.  For Sacred Scripture tells us in both the Psalms and the Book of Hebrews, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Now-- that is today--is all we have; let us always make the most of it, for how we live today will follow us into eternity.