Appointed Time

There is an appointed time for everything.
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)

At the appointed time, the Anointed One came to die for the sins of the world.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

At an appointed time in the future, the Anointed One will come again to bring an end to evil.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31 NIV)

And bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Him.
He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages] - to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10 AMP)

To My Children - 3

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 KJV)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)

I have spoken on things and events, the two types of things and two types of events. Now I want to talk about time.

Our time is limited and evil (Psalm 90:9-10). It is a one way street going towards death. We should use it wisely.

Invest your time in things that you can take beyond the grave. To live beyond death, you need eternal life. To have eternal life, God must know you and you must know God. To know God, you must do His will. To do His will, you must first know His will. To know His will, you must know His Word. Therefore, invest your time in reading the Bible. Then you will know His will. Then you can do His will. Then you can know God. Then you can have eternal life.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)

Invest Wisely

Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. (Matthew 25:27 ESV)

We ought to invest our time wisely. We have friends who taught us how to invest our money by putting aside of our income. We also learn to invest part of our time daily by putting aside time to read the Bible. This is a very good investment of time. If we increase our Bible knowledge, we will know God better. When we know God better, we can do His will better. If we do His will, we will know Him.

If we know God, we have eternal life.

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him." (John 14:21 HCSB)

Answering Epicurus

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. (Isaiah 46:10 CSB)

"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?" Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

From ancient times till today, we always hear this question, "If there is a god, why does he allow so much evil and suffering?" The usual conclusions we get are:

1. God wanted to stop suffering but could not. He is not omnipotent.
2. God can stop suffering but will not. He is a sadist.
3. God does not exist. He is just some imagination by men to ease their sufferings.

The Bible gave us another answer. Evil will end in God's timing. We look at the big overview of the Bible - creation, fall, redemption, restoration. At the time that God has ordained, He will judge the evil and restore the world to perfection again.

There is an appointed time for everything.
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)

This timing is not given to men.
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (Acts 1:7 ESV)

There is a time for iniquities to be full.
And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:16 ESV)

There is a time for desolation to be completed.
During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. (Daniel 9:2 NIV)

At the appointed time, the Anointed One came to die for the sins of the world.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

Then there will be a number of Gentiles that needs to be saved.
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25 ESV)

And there will be a number of martyrs to be killed.
Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:11 ESV)

Then the Anointed One will come again to bring an end to evil.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31 NIV)

And bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Him.
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:10 NLT)

At this present moment, there seems to be no action from God. But God will act when the time come. There will be no delay.
They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:4 NIV)

In the meantime, before God acts to end evil, good men have to exercise patience and faith.
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:12-14 NIV)

Evil men have their chance to repent.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

Passing Time

Every now and then, people (especially those who just know me) asked me, "What do you do during your free time? Do you play games?"

From now on, this is how I will reply them, "When I am not sinning, I will try to do something to spread the good news about Jesus Christ, or tell something about the Bible using my phone, FaceBook or blog."

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)

Time

There is a season for everything.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV)

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12 KJV)

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (Genesis 2:2 KJV)

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:11 ESV)

Time is limited and evil.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
(Psalm 90:9-12 KJV)

O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! (Psalm 39:4-5 ESV)

Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand, like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid. (Job 7:1-2 NLT)

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. (Amos 5:13 KJV)

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV)

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Colossians 4:5-6 KJV)

God does not always take the shortest time and most efficient route.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt" But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. (Exodus 13:17-18 ESV)

Time lost due to sin and consequences of sin.
And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness. "'Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years--a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.' (Numbers 14:33-34 NLT)

Time is a perception.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (Genesis 29:20 KJV)

The Thousand Years
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8 KJV)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. (Revelation 20:1-3 ESV)

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6 ESV)

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10 ESV)

Conclusion about time.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

The Descent of Man

This picture is taken from the Bill Nye Ken Ham debate. It is from Ken Ham, showing a summary of the Bible from creation to consummation.

Creation
Genesis 1:1 - 2:3

Corruption
Genesis 3:1-24

Catastrophe
Genesis 7:11-12

Confusion
Genesis 11:1-9

Christ
Genesis 3:15
Micah 5:2
Daniel 9:24-26

Cross
Psalm 22

Consummation
Revelation 21:1

Little Time Counted As Much

Israel, from the time the nation was formed, spent 400 years in Egypt, 40 years in the wilderness and most of the time in the Promised Land during the days of Judges and Kings disobeying God and worshiping idols and was exiled for 70 years. Then they spent most of the time after the return from Babylonian Captivity practicing hypocrisy. Finally, they were exiled again for 1900 years for rejecting the Messiah. Israel spent so little time obeying God. Though Israel spent so little of their 3500 years of existence obeying God, it was enough to preserve the Old Testament, to show God's glory and mercy.

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25 NIV)

Jesus only preached for three and a half years, but that was enough to lay the foundation of Christianity. We are glad that God is not demanding on us. Rather, He supplied all our needs (Philippians 4:19).

We waste most of our time doing things that do not matter for eternity. It is the mercy of God and the power of God that the little that we spend for God counts as much in His sight. He is able to use the little time to achieve His eternal purpose.

Redeeming The Time

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16 KJV)
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Colossians 4:5 KJV)

Greek
Redeem: ἐξαγοραζόμενοι (exagorazomenoi) - redeem, making most of
Time: καιρὸν (kairon) - time, right time, convenient season, opportunity

We must make full opportunity to do God's work. We have to redeem (i.e. buy back) time, because the days are evil. There is a price to pay. Choosing wisely among the good things, the good things that are temporal and the good things that are eternal. At the end of our lives, we must make sure that our time is used wisely, to buy gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay, stubble. Live, as we wish to live, when we die.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (1 Corinthians 3:12 KJV)

"Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up. (1 Corinthians 10:23 HCSB)

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 KJV)

Inspired by JSM 2013 New Year's Message "The Christian Walk" preached by Dr Tan Kian Lee on 1st January 2013.

He hath Set Eternity In Their Heart

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

Men live under the tyranny of time. There is no escape. But God put into our heart the idea of what it is to be free from time, to be in eternity. We cannot fully understand it, but we know that we can escape from time.

Back to the Future, Reincarnation and Sperm

Some movies are exciting to watch. But if you take the plot seriously, you may find that it is not possible to be true. For example, the invisible man, if he exists, would be blind, since he cannot have an opaque cornea which allows sight.

Another exciting movie plot is time travelling. In the movie "Back to the Future", 17 year old Marty McFly, who has a nerdy dad, alcoholic mum, an elder brother and an elder sister, accidentally warps himself from 1985 to 1955, where he meets both of his parents when they are teenagers. Marty unintentionally interrupts his parent's first meeting together. Our hero must now reunite his parents-to-be, lest he cease to exist in the 1980s. Being a good sci-fi movie, everything ended well. After some adventures, he re-unites his parents and return back to 1985. He finds that his dad is now a famous author and his mom was sober. He still has his brother and sister, except they are leading better lives.

Nice story, except it cannot be real, even when time travel is possible. Even though Marty re-unites his parents, there can be no guarantee that his siblings and him will be born. First, he cannot ensure that his father (who is now an author) and mother (who is now sober), will have sex exactly at the same time as they had before the time travelling occurs in order to produce Marty and his siblings. Even if Marty can ensure that they have sex exactly at the same time for that three occasions, he cannot ensure that the same spermatozoon will fertilize his mother's egg. If it is a different spermatozoon, it will be a different person, even with a different sex. Marty may well be born as Martina. Even the egg produced may not be the same.

Reincarnation is like these movies. As long as you treat it like a nice fiction, it is okay. But when you think of how it can be implemented in the real world, you have to grapple with the problem of the 2 cause-and-effects, the normal scientific cause-and-effect and the Karmic cause-and-effect. Of course you can argue that we do not understand everything, which is why we need faith. But faith that is not based on facts is very dangerous. When the foundation cannot be proven true, then anything incredible can be built on it. Thus in Chinese Buddhism, you have 6 realms (六道: 天．人．阿修羅．畜生．餓鬼．地獄) to be reincarnated. Is it true? Nobody knows. I can also come up with my own theory of reincarnation. This is the reason why although the Chinese are very smart people, but Science comes from the West, where the religion stress on Truth.