I was a bit surprised yesterday to learn that Daylight Savings Time is
almost upon us. The effect of that adjustment of our clocks is that
daylight lasts later into the evening. Nothing really changes with
the length of the day; it's just that we change our perspective to the
rising and setting of the sun.
A real change in time, however, occurred last week. The seventh-
strongest earthquake on record was felt last Saturday in the nation of
Chile. NASA scientists who study such events announced that there was
a shift in the figure axis of our planet that resulted from that
earthquake. What that shift means is that a complete rotation of our
planet now takes longer.
I know what you're thinking, because I thought it myself: I haven't
noticed the day being longer. That's because the change is so slight.
Richard Gross of NASA stated that his calculations show that a day on
earth is now 1.26 milliseconds longer than before last Saturday's
earthquake. No, none of us would ever notice such a minuscule change
in time.
The Bible speaks of a time when a day was significantly longer.
Joshua and the army of Israel were engaged in a heated battle with
several enemy nations. Wanting to see a complete victory in the
battle, Joshua gave an unusual command: "'Sun, stand still over
Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.' So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies"
(Joshua 10:12,13).
You may have received e-mails that talk about how NASA scientists had
found a chunk of missing time that point to this miraculous event in
Joshua. That e-mail is a hoax; no NASA study has ever discovered time
that was missing. But we don't need confirmation from scientists to
know that Joshua's account is true. The Bible is a book of truth, and
so we know the sun really did stand still on that day. The One who
created the sun certainly has the power to alter its normal activity.
What should be of greatest concern to us is the change in time that we
are going to experience. We're not talking just of the fact that time
will one day stop for each of us. Now, while we are alive, time is
measured by clocks and calendars. When we pass from this life,
though, those instruments will be of no use. Time only applies to
those who are alive on this planet.
The lesson we must learn from God's word is that the end of time does
not mean the end of our existence. Jesus pointed to this truth in His
description of the Great Judgment. When the disobedient have heard
how they failed in meeting life's real purpose, "... these will go
away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life"
(Matthew 25:46). There will be no clocks or calendars in eternity,
for there will be no time.
As Peter spoke of the end of this material realm, he posed this
question: "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?" (2
Peter 3:11). That's a good question for us to consider: In view of my
future existence, how should I be living now?
A change in time is coming. Will we be ready for that change?
Timothy D. Hall
almost upon us. The effect of that adjustment of our clocks is that
daylight lasts later into the evening. Nothing really changes with
the length of the day; it's just that we change our perspective to the
rising and setting of the sun.
A real change in time, however, occurred last week. The seventh-
strongest earthquake on record was felt last Saturday in the nation of
Chile. NASA scientists who study such events announced that there was
a shift in the figure axis of our planet that resulted from that
earthquake. What that shift means is that a complete rotation of our
planet now takes longer.
I know what you're thinking, because I thought it myself: I haven't
noticed the day being longer. That's because the change is so slight.
Richard Gross of NASA stated that his calculations show that a day on
earth is now 1.26 milliseconds longer than before last Saturday's
earthquake. No, none of us would ever notice such a minuscule change
in time.
The Bible speaks of a time when a day was significantly longer.
Joshua and the army of Israel were engaged in a heated battle with
several enemy nations. Wanting to see a complete victory in the
battle, Joshua gave an unusual command: "'Sun, stand still over
Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.' So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies"
(Joshua 10:12,13).
You may have received e-mails that talk about how NASA scientists had
found a chunk of missing time that point to this miraculous event in
Joshua. That e-mail is a hoax; no NASA study has ever discovered time
that was missing. But we don't need confirmation from scientists to
know that Joshua's account is true. The Bible is a book of truth, and
so we know the sun really did stand still on that day. The One who
created the sun certainly has the power to alter its normal activity.
What should be of greatest concern to us is the change in time that we
are going to experience. We're not talking just of the fact that time
will one day stop for each of us. Now, while we are alive, time is
measured by clocks and calendars. When we pass from this life,
though, those instruments will be of no use. Time only applies to
those who are alive on this planet.
The lesson we must learn from God's word is that the end of time does
not mean the end of our existence. Jesus pointed to this truth in His
description of the Great Judgment. When the disobedient have heard
how they failed in meeting life's real purpose, "... these will go
away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life"
(Matthew 25:46). There will be no clocks or calendars in eternity,
for there will be no time.
As Peter spoke of the end of this material realm, he posed this
question: "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?" (2
Peter 3:11). That's a good question for us to consider: In view of my
future existence, how should I be living now?
A change in time is coming. Will we be ready for that change?
Timothy D. Hall
Get a wide variety of Bible commentary and Bible study materials at http://www.abiblecommentary.com today. There are even FREE text sermons - http://www.abiblecommentary.com/freesermons, FREE audio sermons - http://www.abiblecommentary.com/audiosermon, and a FREE on-line commentary on the book of Romans: http://bit.ly/3MRU5I.
The latest commentary on First Corinthians is now ready; this book is very thorough but very easy to use. Get your copy of First Corinthians today by using this secure PayPal link: http://bit.ly/9hyC7M
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.