Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?

Becoming lost and confused over what the time of day is at any given moment or season is one of my particular gifts. When my loved ones are away and in different time zones, I often confuse whether they are an hour or two behind or ahead, tripping up not just over the math, but the entire concept. Consequently, Daylight Savings time presents a similar quandary for me each year. Is it time to spring forward or fall back? When we get up in the morning, the clock will say 5:30 a.m. Does that mean my body will think it is 4:30 a.m. or 6:30 a.m.? On the questions roll through my mind making me doubt my abilities with basic math functions. This year was no exception.

Spring forward weekend found me enjoying a truly awesome time with two other girlfriends at a women’s retreat. Kay Arthur was the speaker and she came each session with a challenging message from the truth of God’s word. On Saturday night, the conference organizers informed us that the clocks in our hotel rooms would automatically reset themselves for daylight savings time. When we went to bed, I set the alarm on my cell phone. The next morning when my alarm went off, I noticed there was a discrepancy between my cell phone time and the time on the room clock. I was perplexed as to why my phone had not caught up like the hotel clock, but decided to move on with the morning ignoring the time on my phone. I explained what had happened to my roommates before I headed off for a few quiet minutes by the lake before breakfast. I promised to get us spots at a table so we could enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out of the hotel and attending the final conference session. When I made my way to the breakfast area, I congratulated my often time challenged self on actually arriving ten minutes before breakfast was to begin. Imagine my surprise when I found the ballroom already crowded with women. When I finally asked someone why everyone had arrived so early, a lady responded, “Early? They are closing the breakfast buffet in ten minutes.” Suddenly, the light broke through to me. My cell phone had been correct all along. Due to an error in our room clock and my confirming misinformation, my roommates and I were all one hour behind.

You can imagine the scene of flying suitcases and slight panic when we realized we were totally unprepared for the morning, all now finding ourselves running one hour behind. I felt like a total dolt having told my girlfriends that our room clock was correct when in fact it was wrong. We thought we were on track, but in truth, we had no idea what time it really was.

The similarity between our time confused situation and what Kay taught us from God’s word during the weekend was striking. Kay started the weekend with a verse from 1 Chronicles:

men of Issachar, who understood the times and
knew what Israel should do.
I Chronicles 12:32a (NIV)

Kay continued to teach throughout the weekend about our responsibility to know God’s word so that we can understand the times in which we are living and know what to do. Kay is not the only one sounding the alarm that we may be walking in the last days. It is easy sometimes for us to think, “Well, I have never really understood the book of Revelation anyway, so I will just leave all of that end times stuff to people more knowledgeable than I. “ However, Jesus said:

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree; As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
Matthew 24:32-33 (NIV)

Basically, if we can tell the difference between winter and spring, we can observe the signs that Jesus’ coming is near.

So how do I know what to do once I read God’s word and know the times? What difference does that make in my daily life? For me, it means I need to be more focused on what the Father has for me to do each day than my own agenda. I have to take the time to stop and hear His voice. I need to be focused on His priorities, rather than distracted by my own. No, I do not plan to give up doing laundry to go stand on a street corner in D.C. with a sign saying, “The End is Near.” However, can I forget about finishing my “to do” list today to be available to someone who needs to hear that Jesus cares about them? Can I be bold in sharing with those I meet that there is a God who loves them and sent His Son to redeem them? When conversations begin drifting towards fear concerning the economy, the swine flu, or any other number of current issue panics, will I share the hope that I have for my future because it is safe with Jesus Christ?

As I learned during “spring forward” weekend, not knowing what time it really is can cause problems for me and those around me. Today, I want to be conscious of the correct time and act accordingly. Father, please show us all how to live by your watch . . . . . the one that always knows what time it really is.