Time's Running Out! Find Purpose

Bright candle in the darkness
Photo by Markus Merz

Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." John 12:35-36

Time flies. Even though Christians are assured of everlasting life and spending eternity with Jesus, we know that life on earth is finite. Hence there is a certain urgency, with the passing of time to seize the day to live in such a manner as to  please God. Jesus told us to make use of the opportunity before our time on this earth run out.

What is your view of time? The Ancient Greeks have two words for time

• Chronos (χρόνος) or Every Moment Passes that is the measure of time
• Kairos (καιρός) or Every Moment Matters that is the meaning of time

Chronos refers to chronological or sequential time, it is quantitative. Kairos signifies the proper or opportune time, the defining moment. Kairos suggests that time has value and is not just a quantity. In the New Testament, Kairos is used to describe the appointed time or the God-ordained time.

We should use the Kairos time wisely. Jesus Christ exhorts us to, 

“Walk while you are in the light before darkness overtakes you.” 

There are defining moments that we should seize to influence others for good. We should walk in the light so that the wisdom, the guidance, the influence that will shape and mold us are not lost as the time passes; that light around and within us can also shape and influence friends and family. There is a purpose to life. 

Many years back, our church the Charis Methodist Church launched the '40 Days of Purpose' Campaign. It was centred on the book “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Then our Pastor, the Rev Yeo Lay Suan introduced the campaign asking the question “What on earth are we here for?” 

Pastor Yeo told an anecdote of an eaglet which fell into a farmer’s coop and was raised amongst the chickens. All its life, the eagle thought that it was a chicken and never knew the truth of what it is like to fly and to feel the wind beneath its wings. How tragic?

It would also be tragic for us to live life if near the end we assess it to be futile. That was the lament of the preacher in the Bible book Ecclesiastes, 

 'Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!

But life matters! Jesus tells us to stay in the light; the man who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. Be in the Light of Jesus so that we can see that we are no chickens but eagles and fulfil our purposes in life. 

In the search for meaning in life during the 'hippie days' of the 1960s, the song 'Turn Turn Turn' written by Peter Seeger became very popular. 

To everything (turn, turn, turn)

There is a season (turn, turn, turn)

And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die

A time to plant, a time to reap

A time to kill, a time to heal

A time to laugh, a time to weep

A time to build up, a time to break down

A time to dance, a time to mourn

A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

A time of love, a time of hate

A time of war, a time of peace

A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To everything (turn, turn, turn)

There is a season (turn, turn, turn)

And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose

A time to rend, a time to sew

A time for love, a time for hate

A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

Using the theme from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, this song tells us that there is a purpose to life. Time does not just flit away, Kairos not Chronos. Find Purpose, Find Meaning, Find God.

“For I know, the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Lionel

Updated 1st published 15 Aug 2007