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

One Moment In Time

Yap Pin Xiu, Singapore's double gold medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

'Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time, because the days are evil' Eph 5:15-16

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics Games are both over. Both were held in Jul-August 2021 delayed by the raging Covid-19 pandemic. Even so the pandemic especially in Tokyo raged on during the Games. Many criticised holding these games at such bleak times. I was not one of them. I felt for the athletes, the time and sacrifice they gave to training, should not be downplayed. For  many these games gave them the opportunity of that one moment in time

'One Moment in Time' is the theme song of the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul Korea. The sentimental ballad expresses the very sentiments of the Olympian; the sacrifices and the crowning glory of an Olympic medal. It is exactly the pride that Singapore's paralympian swimmer, Ms Yap Pin Xiu must have felt when she received two gold medals. 

Each day I live

I want to be a day to give the best of me

I'm only one, but not alone

My finest day is yet unknown

I broke my heart for ev'ry gain

To taste the sweet, I face the pain

I rise and fall, yet through it all this much remains

I want one moment in time

When I'm more than I thought I could be

When all of my dreams

Are a heart beat away

And the answers are all up to me

Give me one moment in time

When I'm racing with destiny

Then in that one moment of time

I will feel, I will feel eternity

I've lived to be the very best

And I want it all, no time for less

And I've laid the plans

Now lay the chance here in my hands

Give me one moment in time

When I'm more than I thought I could be

When all of my dreams

Are a heart beat away

And the answers are all up to me

Give me one moment in time

When I'm racing with destiny

Then in that one moment of time

I will feel, I will feel eternity

You're a winner for a lifetime

If you seize that one moment in time

Make it shine

Give me

One moment in time

When I'm more than I thought I could be

When all of my dreams

Are a heart beat away

And the answers are all up to me

Give me one moment in time

When I'm racing with destiny

Then in that one moment of time

I will be, I will be free

I will be free

I will be

I will be free

This song captures the moments of personal achievements; feats that we should all recognise and celebrate. Yap Pin Xiu has achieved much and being young, she will achieve more in the future. Do you know that in 2018 she was a nominated member of the Singapore Parliament? She is a five-time Paralympic gold medallist, a one-time IPC gold medallist and holds two world records. She was awarded the Singapore Pinjat Jasa Gemilang (the national Meritorius Service Medal). She deserves her one moment in time.

The ancient Greeks have a word for this defining moment, Kairos (καιρός) meaning the opportune or critical moment. It defines time in terms of the meaning of time as distinct from Chronos (χρόνος) which can be defined as the movement (passage) of time.

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. For example,

'You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.' Romans 5:6 

'The time has come, He said. The kindom of God has come near. Repent  and believe the good news.' Mark 1:15

Indeed there are God-given moments such as the times when Jesus walked this earth. For many Christians, there is not one moment in time compared to the time when we received salvation and confessed Jesus as Saviour and Lord, 

"In the time of My favour I heard you and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation.' 2 Cor 6:2 

On hearing the Olympic anthem sung by Whitney Houston, we would have concluded that the singular acheivement, well deserved no doubt, is made possible entirely by human efforts. Not detracting anything from the celebratory moments of the Olympian medallists, it will do well to remember especially for Christians, to appreciate God's hand in all our greatest moments and achievements. 

'So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up.' Galatians 6:9-10

We should learn to recognise the God-appointed times, those times when His will and His times intersect with ours. That will be our one moment in time; God has made all things beautiful in His time.

In His Time

In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautiful, in His time,
Lord, please show me everyday,
As You're teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say, in Your time.

In Your time, in Your time

You make all things beautiful in Your time

Lord my life to you I bring

May each song I have to sing

Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time

Lionel

Photo from Straits Times