Humans are obsessed with time. We live by the clock. When we eat, sleep, exercise, and work are all marked out by numbers on a wall. Our lives are so dependent on our perception of time. Even beyond the daily clock, our minds are wired to think in terms of the past, present, and future. We know we can’t go back to the past, and we can’t fast forward to the future either, but we constantly think about, worry, and obsess over both. Even as memories fade, regret and pain can remain. No scientist has ever been able to use a formula to stop time in its tracks or undo what has been done or said. No billionaire has paid enough money to change his mistakes. And despite claims to the contrary, no time machine actually exists.

God has breathed life into us and has set eternity in our hearts. Everyone has a concept of eternity and knows deep down in their heart of hearts that this life is not all there is. There is more beyond the limits of the finite. In this life, we are all still bound by the confines of space and time. Yet, God is not restrained by these things; He exists outside of space and time and therefore controls space and time. He sees what we cannot and already knows the past and future all in a single thought. So why wouldn't we place our hope and trust in one who already has seen the end result? Why would we not leave the guiding and decision-making up to Him? James describes our time here on this earth as a mist or vapor that is here for a moment, yet quickly vanishes. Where is the wisdom in investing all of our thoughts and energy into something that is so minimal and short in light of all of eternity? We blink, and time has passed us by; first kisses, first jobs, and summer memories will all fade away and be forgotten. The only things that truly matter are the things that show up in eternity.

This does not mean today is not important. What we do today can show up in eternity, and what we do today can show up tomorrow as well. The Lord will not be mocked; a man will reap what he sows. Whatever we do today, the Lord holds tomorrow in His hands. There’s a saying that if you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans. The idea here is that people make plans all the time, yet God has already seen the future and knows what will happen. He already knows of your success or failure, and he invites you instead to follow his plan, which has never and will never fail. The Lord desires for you to steward your time well, not simply to hang on for dear life until the roller coaster comes to an end. Time is like money. When you budget your money, you realize that you have more than you thought you did. The Lord wants you to steward your time because He’s given it to you for a purpose. As believers, we have to differentiate the carriage from the horse when it comes to how we view our time on this earth. We are not the horse in our lives anymore. We have decided to follow Jesus and allow Him to lead us wherever he would have us go. We have chosen to live out the will of the Lord and for each hour of our life to be a tool in the hands of God.