There is a Time

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, NIV 1984).

My Musings – This is, perhaps, the most well-known passage from the book of Ecclesiastes. It even inspired a rock and roll hit song by the group the Byrds, to which they added “turn, turn, turn” and “I swear it’s not too late.”

A time to turn – “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2, NIV 1984). Now is the season for turning to Christ. We have no promise of even the next moment.

I swear it’s not too late – “This people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:15, NIV 1984). A person’s heart can become so calloused that they are unable to see, hear, understand, or turn.

My Advice – Conditions are favorable for turning right now. For, “He [God] determined the times set for [us] and the exact places where [we] should live. God did this so that [we] would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:26–27, NIV 1984).

He set the time, and He set the “exact” place. The most favorable when and where for each one of us. “God did this” for each of us. All we have to do is “reach out for Him.” “He is not far.” Well within our reach. We just have to turn in His direction. Turn now. “I swear it’s not too late.”