THE WORLD HAS TIMETABLE - PT.1

THE WORLD HAS TIMETABLE

Pt. 1

There are different time zones that operate in creation. The world is divided into different time zones that govern life in general. However, there are two time dimensions that govern creation – God’s time (spiritual/supernatural/eternal time) that operates on a different pendulum and time that governs activities in the physical world (physical time). To this end, spiritual time operates as “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). Genesis also gives the different segments of physical time (seasons): “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22). Although this scripture somehow gives an idea that physical time has no end “shall not cease”, physical time in fact has an end that depends on when God has put in His souvereign plan. However there is no end to spiritual time (eternal).

Before Jacob died, he assembled his sons because he had seen his imminent departure from this time zone (Genesis 49). Thus, Jacob knew that his time to depart from the physical time zone was closer than he could ever imagine and as a father and prophet, it was important to leave behind spiritual blue print for his children and their generations. It’s important to ask: If you are fully aware of the departure of your father, mother or close relative who has some level of authority or influence over you, what would you have loved they leave behind for you? The sons of Jacob were very expectant of the father’s blessings that were to immediately set them out as beacons in their world. Probably their father had told them of how his father (Isaac their grandfather) released prophetic blessings upon him and his brother, Esau. However, the intension of Jacob was very different from that of his father Isaac at the time the later was about exiting the physical time zone. Isaac wanted to be satisfied with good meat before releasing great blessings upon his first son, Esau. Unlike Isaac, Jacob assembled all his sons, apparently his only daughter seem to have been married away. Jacob avoided the problem of making some of his sons jealous and envious by inviting only a few of them to receive his ‘supposed’ departure blessings. But contrary to the jubilation and ecstasy of congregating to receive the father’s departing blessings, Jacob released the key to the prophetic future of his sons – “…Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” (Genesis 49:1). Although, major part of his prophecy looks like doom for them, it was a key to increasing in wisdom, acquiring knowledge and strategizing to overcome the “…which shall befall you in the last days.” Waoh…last days? Nothing for the present!

In spite of whatever blessings, commendations, rebuke or curse that was hailed on Jacob’s sons, they were to consider these issues in a flash forward mode. That is, consider the pronouncement from future to present. In essence, Jacob predicted that there is an end in view. The psalmist in Psalm 90:12 captures it so well “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” This implies that once your future is determined, you will be able to direct your ways to fit into the determined future. Unfortunately, several people live in this world in a never-ending mode. They are oblivious of a never-dying life in the spiritual time that commences when this physical time truncates. If the World has a timetable, then the world has an end to time upon which it operates. But living in an unending mode is the greatest illusion of all time. Many people build their future on the basis of family backgrounds and attainments, achievements in education and career, social status, local and international recognitions, positions and titles. Several people have unfortunately build their treasures and lives on the foundations of their success, property, prosperity, wealth, fame, and popularity but the experience of the well to do agricultural industrialist can help you to reverse your thinking: “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:19-20).

The world, as well as your life has a timetable. Your end has already been determined “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.” (Psalm 90:9). Be that as it may, remember that even the 70 years (threescore years and ten: ((20*3) + 10)) which is a benchmark for the average person cannot be attained by most individuals due to our lifestyles, respect/disregard for our parents and the elderly, and accidents that happen around us. This means one cannot say with certainty that s/he will live to 70 years and beyond.

What lessons can we glean from scriptures used above? The Bible provides an answer in 2 Peter 3:11 “…what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” Like a student, you cannot be enrolled in an educational system forever. Even if you fail or defer your course of study several times, there is a point in time that you need to exit that system. You need to make way for others to be enrolled. No student lives in an illusion that because of his level of influence, the beauty of his school environment, effectiveness of the system and the niceness of the people around, he will live in the school system forever. When Lot’s wife connected herself to the fun, excitement, wealth and recognition they had acquired in Sodom and Gomorrah, what was her end? If Job had tied his life to his wealth, level of influence or his wife, what would have been his end when everything was lost in a day? Why do you think you will live forever? Why have you become so arrogant because of your position or level of influence? Why do you look down on people because of your wealth and fame? Remember, there is “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) an end determined for everything on earth. Indeed, the world has a timetable. How do you know that the timetable of the world is ending?

Watch out for Part 2.

Dr. ERNEST K. AFFUM

Author, EKs Life Tunes

All scripture references are from the KJV version of the Bible. Leave your questions and comments below.