What Time Is It?
So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. John 7:6 NASB
Time – Do you have time? “Time for what?” you probably ask. Well, if you were talking with Yeshua on this particular day, the answer might be, “Time to do what you were designed to do.” In other words, do you have kairos time?
All of us have a limited amount of chronos time. That’s the minutes, hours, days and years that make up the changes we measure with some external instrument. We are born, we live, we die. That’s pretty much the summary of chronos. But kairos doesn’t work like this. Kairos is that moment when everything aligns, when all the circumstances come together, when what we were meant to do happens. Kairos is the moment I become myself. And kairos moments can happen any time (chronos).
Yeshua’s comment demonstrates a clear understanding of purpose. His kairos comes when his purpose is fulfilled. “It is finished” is a kairos statement, not a chronos declaration. Everything in his life leads to the exactly right moment when it is all fulfilled. In fact, his birth is a kairos moment, a moment when the plans of YHVH were all aligned and the world was ready for the appearance of the Messiah. Purpose is the current of kairos. Yeshua understands the timing of his purpose because he knows the God who sent him.
But Yeshua’s remark about the kairos of the opponents is also informative. Since they lack awareness of a divine purpose, any moment is their final moment. The Greek term is hetoimos, “to be ready, prepared.” The Hebrew equivalent is kun. The Hebrew word underscores the notion of being prepared for something in the future. It means setting things in order now so that when the inevitable comes one will be ready. With this in mind, the NASB translation “opportune” seems to miss the mark. Yeshua suggests that his opponents should be preparing now. The kairos moment of perfect readiness is upon them. Now is the day of salvation. Today is the last day of your life now. It is therefore necessary to be prepared at this precise moment.
Yeshua could say the same words to us. He knows what he must do to be ready. Do we? Do we know our divinely appointed purpose? Do we have such clarity about our lives that we take every step possible now in order to be ready then? Or do we float along, not really sure of what we are all about, and therefore, not really preparing for the final kairos moment? Of course, these questions come down to clarity about purpose. Just like Yeshua, YHVH designed you and me to play a special role in the plans of the Kingdom. Each one of us has a different part to play but not one of us is expendable. Therefore, without knowing our purpose, we cannot prepare and knowing our purpose is entirely dependent on knowing God’s design for each of us. Do you want kairos slices in the routine of your chronos world? Inquire about purpose—and prepare.
Topical Index: kairos, chronos, hetoimos, kun, prepare, purpose, time, John 7:6
If purpose is the basis for kairos time, then patience has to be its watchword. I have to wait until the signal is given: “All systems clear!” Not just ‘my’ system!
To me, the proper position of the yetzer ha-ra is repentance; a 180 degree turn from its ‘natural’ inclination. When I repent and relent and relinquish ‘my’ time, then HIS time can commence. Each moment of ‘my’ time, then, is time to hand over the reins! Then, sit back; why, anything could happen then!
Just for the record, y’all; not anywhere NEAR there, yet! But, I do know when I do happen to do it, its never dull!
Yes, Laurita, allowing our own agenda to fall by the wayside, so that we are ready at His timing. I am pretty sure that when that has aligned and borne fruit in my life, there was another person also doing the same thing. I did not usually know it beforehand, however, and was truly grateful to discover the fact.
Time, (as does everything else) belongs to Him.
In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautiful, in His time,
LORD, please show me everyday,
As You’re teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say, – in Your time.
In Your time, in Your time,
You make all things beautiful, in Your time.
LORD, my life to You I bring,
May each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time.
Do not squander time, for it is the ‘stuff’ -life is made from. Wasted time is wasted life.
Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, – a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine!
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love,
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O LORD, I am Thine!
Never a battle with wrong for the right,
Never a contest that He doth not fight;
Lifting above us His banner so white;
Moment by moment I’m kept in His sight.
Never a trial that He is not there,
Never a burden that He doth not bear;
Never a sorrow that He doth not share,
Moment by moment, I’m under His care.
Never a heartache, and never a groan,
Never a teardrop, and never a moan;
Never a danger but there on the throne
Moment by moment He thinks of His own.
Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus, my Savior, – abides with me still.
What I focused on was not the word time, but ‘purpose’…..Purpose – that is what I need…that is what I thought I had…but it was ‘my’ purpose of what I thought was His. Determining ‘His’ purpose in my life has simply come down to trying to hear his voice each and every moment….and then ‘act’ upon it…setting aside ‘my’ voice. Not always easy.
What Time Is It?
It’s time to do something righteous, purposeful for his kingdom.
Here is a poem I wrote long ago:
In the rhythm and the time, is the music really mine?
Is the song I want to sing buried so deeply beneath the things
that I think that I must do to be acceptable to you,
That I’ve missed the journey home, for a barren aimless roam
and a life that could have been had the past been deemed to mend
And the future faced with all that I can give
With an iron will to live in rhythm and in rhyme with the music and the time.
Today’s “corny” offering for the table:
I’m learning not to be so afraid of the smear. Hopefully, now, I’m more ready to hear. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear. I hold those who light the Way as dear. The means of advancement are still not so clear. I’m often not sure how to bring the King near. This blog has helped my confidence to steer. I think part of the answer is to be of good cheer! I want to properly steward my given sphere; yet I find myself prone to veer. Perhaps it is time to get it in gear! I don’t want my song to be insincere as wee ones seek to find wellness in this new frontier.
I was reading through Judges and as I was going through the story of Samson, I noticed that the name Delilah is the term “night” (lelah) with a dalet (D) in front of it, and dalets are all about doorways and decisions. The passage immediately before this states that Samson both “lay down” and “rose up” in the “half” of the night. That particular term for half is associated with a splitting by piercing, such as a bolt of lightning piercing or “splitting” the night sky.
All that being said to ask the question of ourselves, what are we doing now to prepare for the “time” when the darkness comes? “I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night comes, in which no man can work.” (Jn. 9:4) Samson laid down and when he woke up it was dark. Decisions are made in the middle of the night often according to passions, habit, or fear, among a host of other “issues” we haven’t made time to address in ourselves. That’s when the Delilah’s come.
What time is it?
The psalmist says that while there’s weeping at night, joy comes in the morning. I pray for strength now, for strength then.
YHWH bless you and keep you……
A few days ago I had to go to court for something I have done 2 years ago in a very, very dark and difficult period in my life. It was wrong and I knew it. I know some of you have been praying for me, so I want to share what happened. When all was said, the judge found me guilty. And I was, to my shame. But he gave me a very, very, VERY mild sentence, taking into account the circumstances. Thank God! I don’t have to go to prisson, won’t lose my job and got a second chance. In all this God clearly showed me: you will always have to bear the consequences of your wrong behaviour. Even if I justified you. You won’t get away with it. I want to thank all you who have prayed for me. Your prayers have been heard. Even though I was not acquitted, I thank God for this mild sentence. Thank you all for your prayers! Now I can go on with my life, trying to live up to Torah.
Thank you for sharing this. I am sure you are not the only one who has gone through such a time. It’s just that most of us were never caught, but it doesn’t make us any less guilty.
We’re so happy for you, Kees. His mercy is new every morning, isn’t it? How can we do less than give second chances, when God is so faithful to do so for us? Thank you for sharing a difficult time.
Glad to hear from you Kees, YHWH corrects those He loves. I’ve also been corrected and am even now in that process. Just remember that it brings joy at the end and it brings His true humility to the service we do in His Name. YHWH bless you….
Kees, Glad this is behind you now. Yah uses everything to bring us closer to Him. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you in your pursuit of righteousness and Torah. Though your friends and natural family may have (temporarily) abandoned you we haven’t. You are an honored member of this community who has brought (and will bring) much to us from your research, knowledge and being. You are loved. Shalom, Michael