Time. Change.

Intro.

Time: It's a funny thing

Can we measure time?

In a strict sense, I think we can...

Time constantly marches forward

60 seconds per minute

60 minutes per hour

24 hours per day

365 1/4 days per year

Time is steadily progressing like the beating of a drum at a very steady tempo

Doesn't feel like time moves forward at a steady pace

Sometimes time seems to fly by

When having fun

Vacations go super fast for me...wish they were longer

Imagine when you're sky diving?

children grow up way too fast!

Sometimes time seems to stand still

Embarrassing moments

Tragedy strikes

A boring or hated job

The DMV

I think there's a reason time is weird like that...sometimes seemingly fast, sometimes seemingly slow...more on that in a little bit

There is something I think we all understand instinctively, and that is that "Times Change"

I. Times Change

Times Change...could say "Season's Change" -- The phrases are interchangeable

Now Seasons of weather change about 4 times a day here in Oklahoma!

The Meme I've seen this week on social media "Hey Alaska we found your drunk weather in our yard, you going to need to come pick him up"

Wiki Definition

Time is the indefinite continued progress of existence and events that occur in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future.[1][2][3]

When we're talking times or seasons changing, the Bible has something to say about it.

Background on Ecclesiastes being written by King Solomon

You will probably resonate with these words...you might also have a song start running through your head as I read...if you're old enough to know it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

God created the world & time...to change

There's no use to always wanting "The Good Times" of the past or yearn for those "Good Ol' Days"...they're not coming back! -- God's Kingdom is always advancing & moving forward.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NIV)

10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Luke 9:61–62 (NIV)

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Even Wikipedia says that time move on in "apparently irreversible succession"

According to Solomon in Ecclesiastes...

It's okay to mourn for a season

It's okay to laugh for a season

It's okay to start (or plant) something new for a season

It's okay to stop doing something that's not working for a season

It's okay to refrain from embracing for a season... i.e. Covid!

There's going to be seasons to plant...and a different season to harvest

What we need is God's wisdom to know the difference!

Are you faced with a fork in the road?

Are there any big decisions before you?

give an example

Ask the Lord his opinion in prayer...see if there are any scriptures that address your situation

give an example

II. Change is Constant

If nothing else, the scripture noting that times/seasons are always changing, we can make an observation about change itself...Change is Constant!

Wiki Definition

Alteration[edit]

Impermanence, a difference in a state of affairs at different points in time

Metamorphosis, or change, a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching

The growth of a child

The Caterpillar to Butterfly

Personal development, or personal change, activities that improve awareness and identity

Studying

Working out

Learning from Mistakes

Practicing

Social change, an alteration in the social order of a society

Technological change, invention, innovation, and diffusion of technology

Moore's Law talks about the rate of technology doubling roughly every 18 months to 2 years

What's the Biblical "Take-a-way" from the truth that Change is Constant?

What should we gain from God's word in the matter?

Not hard to sell you on the idea of change being a constant thing

What might be a change for us is how we "view" all the moving parts of our world...What's the point for us? How does God want us to look at all the change around us?

Solomon has more to say to us who labor & toil in the midst of constant change...

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 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. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. 15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

The truth is...Change is Constant

It's going to happen whether we like it or not...whether we're ready for it or not

But here is what Solomon has to say about living this life in the midst of constant change

Find satisfaction in your toil

Enjoy the gifts God has given you in this life...big or small

Enjoy the simple things of life

Do you enjoy your job?

Do you enjoy long walks in the woods?

Do you enjoy a nice cup of hot tea or coffee early in the morning when everyone else is in bed and it's quiet?

Do you enjoy great food?

Do you enjoy hosing parties?

Do you enjoy conversation with a loved one, friend, or stranger?

Do you enjoy a date night with your spouse?

Do you enjoy getting on your motorcycle and just driving?

God has gifted us with the ability to enjoy small things in life...take some time, slow down, & do so this week. (after you vote, you may need to get away from all the political drama)

Only 2 things endure beyond this life (unchangeable)

Our hearts

He has also set eternity in the human heart

There is a measure of time within us that is immeasurable

Maybe that's why time can feel so weird sometimes...When we feel like time flies...and when we feel like time stands still?

There's eternity in your heart.

You had a start point...You don't have an end point

You do have a final destination

God's Actions

Everything God does will endure forever

Nothing can be added

Nothing can be subtracted

God acts in such a way so that we would ultimately fear & revere Him

God has seen it all

You can't surprise God

15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

"Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before"

Here is where the "Constant" part comes in.

Solomon just got done outlining how there are seasons of life that are always changing, moving, and evolving.

These are the same cycles our forefathers all the way back to Adam & Eve have experienced

It is God who keeps the cycles of nature and history going

though things in our world may change so fast it can make our heads spin...God keeps the world from spinning off it's axis. God keeps the 4 seasons of weather (for the most part) in the same order each year

Conclusion:

There are seasons in life for everything. As the world outside continues to change at a breakneck pace, we can take comfort in knowing God has seen it all and is still in control of the chaos.

Only thing you can take to the bank: God is the same yesterday, today & forever.

Do you want security in knowing your eternal destiny?

Did you know it was God who put “Eternity” in your heart?

Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who are weary & heavy laden”

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus also said “I am the way, the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”

John 14:6 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.