The Fleeting of Time

The brief history of Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs said:

“It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”

He said this in an interview with Playboy on the 1st of February 1985, now I am unsure why he said this at 29 years of age, but I suspect it would have been something that was on his mind while he was battling his pancreatic cancer. This coming October would mark 10 years of his passing.

Now many of us know that Steve Jobs was the co-founder of Apple, a giant Information Technology company, many people today use their products, except for me, but we won’t get into that debate.

Steve adopted

However, many of you may not know that Steve Jobs was adopted, his biological father was from Homs, Syria and was doing his PhD at the University of Wisconsin where he met Jobs’ biological mother Joanne Schieble, the two formed a relationship, unfortunately, Joanne’s father found out that Joanne’s partner was Muslim and threatened Joanne to cut all ties with him or be cut out from the family.

Steve Jobs was born on the 24 February 1955 in San Francisco, and Joanne chose the adoptive couple that would take care of him. Her criteria was “Catholic, well-educated, and wealthy”. Unfortunately, the couple that Joanne selected changed their minds, and Steve was placed under the care of Paul and Clara Jobs. Now, Joanne wasn’t too pleased with this but that is another story because what I want to focus on maybe why he would say that ‘time is the most precious resource’ at such a young age.

Busy rich Steve

I mean, this guy had everything, at 23 years old, he was worth a million dollars in 1978, by the age of 24, Jobs was worth 10 million dollars, and a year later 100 million. He is said to be the youngest person to ever make the Forbes list of the nation’s richest people.

Pretty amazing feat don’t you reckon, yet, he still considers time to be the most precious resource in 1985. Why is that?

Well, Steve later adds:

“As it is, I pay a price by not having much of a personal life.”

Well that is quiet understandable seeing that Steve and his Co-founder Steve Wozniak were starting up their IT empire, personal life would be a distant thought as they priortised in being innovative with personal computers.

It is said that Steve didn’t eat that much because he was so focused in building the company and reputation that he never had any romantic relationships in 1985.

Steve gets fired

All that came to an end when Steve Jobs was fired from his own company that he started, this is 3 months after the interview with Playboy where the board appointed another CEO to lead Apple and force Steve in another position in the company. Later, he resigned and started his next project called NeXT.

On the 12 June 2005, Steve gave a speech at the Stanford University, he said:

“I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again.”

This made me reflect on my life, and how time is a precious resource, especially when Jesus is coming soon.

The fleeting of life

You see, when I reflect on my past, I see how I made some of the most silly choices in life. Yet, those choices is what brought me here, pastoring a church, married to a beautiful girl and fathering one of the cutest baby, there is no denying that life is good right now. If I had made some wiser choices in the past, the outcome would have been different.

Yet, I realise one thing, and that is how time passes by so quickly, each second that passes is set and there is nothing that I or anyone can do to take it back. We can’t travel back in time to correct our ways, and we are doing now is done and we can’t change that. I look at my son, when we left the hospital he was wearing some bear outfit that was too big for him, fast forward now, 2 months and he can fit in this outfit perfectly.

You see, the average lifespan for an Australian is 82.75 years in 2018 (it may have increased, I am not sure) but what I am saying is that 80 years may seem like a long time for some, but it could seem like it is right around the corner for others. It’s a matter of perspective, for me, next year I will be 40 years old, which means another 40 years I will be 80 (I, along with some others are at the point where things go down hill from now). For a child who is 10 or 12, 80 years doesn’t mean much, and for those that are in their 60s or 70s, it’s right next door. My mother is 71 years old and to me it is hard seeing her get older, unless some scientist out there can come up with the formula for the fountain of youth, that’s life.

To be more forward in what I am trying to say. In whatever perspective you may look at it, human life, our lives, is short,

Moses writes about our perdicament

Moses writes in Psalms 90:

Psalm 90:10 NKJV

10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:12 NKJV

12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Moses was 120 years old when he died in the land of Moab, yet he saw the fragility of humanity, you have to imagine what Moses had seen in his lifetime, from being a man of power, to being a servant of a powerful God. He seen a lot of suffering and pain but he saw the awesome power of God’s love and how God’s love sustains and gives life.

Don’t be scared!

I don’t want us to be anxious or be freightened, because even though life is short, there is an everlasting life that will be given us when Jesus returns and that is something to look forward to. Eternity with our Redeemer and Friend.

Life is short, there is no getting around that, but what Moses is saying in Psalms 90:12 is take oppotunity to live a blessed and happy life rather than waste it. Grow in wisdom in your numbered days rather than being foolish.

That verse rings true for us today at whatever age you’re in! There is a wise opportunity for us to have a prolonged and prosperous life and that is only in Jesus that we can have that life. There is an opportunity for God to help us be mindful of our weaknesses and be blessed if we’re willing to listen and spend time with Him.

Steve Jobs had to get fired to get some perspective in life, and I think we need something similar except the getting fired part. Because we need a perspective in life to see where we are.

Activity!

I am going to ask you to go a find a piece of paper and a pen, we’re going to do an activity where you’re able to get some perspective.

Take the lowest 3 sections in your life, these are the areas that you can improve on. However, what if I told you that having a relationship with Jesus would improve those 3 sections as well as other areas in that weelness wheel?

The first step in an abundant life in Jesus

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus’ purpose is for us to have that life and to have it more abundantly, we have a wise opportunity to have an abundant life and improve ourselves. But our first step is for us to realise that our time on this earth is short and we shouldn’t waste it but rather use this time to “gain a heart of wisdom”.

That is a first step, it’s not about YOLO or such is life. But, God has blessed me with what I have now how can I use it to glorify Him.

Ephesians 5:15–21 NLT

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

There are only two ways to live out your life, to live foolishly or to live wisely and Paul gives us some points on how we can take that wise path and have that abundant life that Jesus would want us to have.

Oppotunities are available

Verse 16 says:

Ephesians 5:16 NLT

16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

In the KJV, it says “Redeeming the time”, our second task is from this time forward, make every oppotunity that you have in life for a great and noble purpose. To make every opportunity to glorify our Father in heaven. How are you accomplishing that in lock down? What are some ways for you take make the most of every oppotunity to tell people about Jesus (either in word or in action). For the days that we’re living in are evil, and people are looking for hope and we can waste that opportunity.

Be thoughtful in what you do

Ephesians 5:17 NLT

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Imagine doing things thoughtlessly? Like, driving a car thoughtlessly, would you be able to make it back home? Or, taking a train thoughtlessly, did you get on the right train?

Has anyone ever had those moments when you entered the room to get something, but when you entered, you forgot why you were in there and what you were wanting to get? Psychologists call this the “Doorway Effect”, however, for us a Christians after doing our morning devotions and leave for work, do we have a “Doorway Effect”? Where we exit our home and thoughtlessly forget what we’ve read? Or even who we are? Or we have but a short span of life?

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT

31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Whatever we do, how are we thoughtgully glorifying God in the things we do?

Be filled by the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 NLT

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

We’ve spoken about wise opportunities and thoughtfullness, but all this is possible if we are filled by the Holy Spirit.

Now, when I read this verse, yes we can drink wine and become intoxicated, however, how is it possible that we can drink the Holy Spirit? I personally would interpret this verse as being drunk by the sin lusts of the world. We are bombarded with so much immoral graphics that there is a danger that we may become numb. But, when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then you will realise the wickedness that we are surrounded by.

Think back for some of you when you were living the life of sin, and contrast that now as you are walking with the Spirit, you see what I mean, each second that passes the Spirit of God must fill us and overflow through us. When the Spirit fills us, we’re no longer drunk or numb to the sin of this world, but we are sober and see the nature of sin.

Are we going to make the choice to be wise, to take those opportunities that will glorify God, be thoughtful in what we say or do, and be filled by the Holy Spirit?

Worship and fellowship with fellow believers.

Ephesians 5:19–21 NLT

19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

When you read these verses, what comes to mind? What is it that you visualise?

I suspect you’re thinking about a church, or a church community and family, a community that sings together, a family that sings praises to the Lord. Praising and worshipping Jesus and are meek and humble towards each other.

Are you part of that community? How involved are you? Our church has many events during the week, from Inspire Tuesdays, Prayer meetings, Food Pantry, CARE Groups, Sabbath School and main worship.

Summerise the points

How will you be utilising your precious and limited time in:

Making the wise choices in your life?

In taking those opportunities to glorify Jesus?

Thoughtfully making the right decisions?

Being filled by the Holy Spirit daily?

Worshipping and fellowshipping with the saints?

Conclusion

My friends, we don’t have long on this earth? I know you’re busy with your career, I know you’re busy with your family, I know you’re busy planning your future, I know you’re busy studying, I know you’re on your phone or whatever it is you’re doing. But, our relationship with Jesus if far more important in these few years. Jesus said:

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

I’m 39 years old, and I spent my life working and working, then when I look back now, I ask myself the question, where has the time gone? Why has it gone so quickly? 40 years, can go like that when we’re not being wise with our time.

I know that this is probably a message that you didn’t want to hear, to realise how vunerable you are, but it is important for us to know because ‘time is of the essence’ and Christ is coming soon. Yet, we should look at each day is a blessing from God, 'carpe diem’ (seize the day) in Christ and live abundantly.

When we realise our predicament, then maybe we can gain a heart of wisdom according to Moses.

2 Peter 3:8 NLT

8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

Jesus could come any day, hour or minute, we don’t know. To Him, these 2000 years after He ascended into heaven would of been like 2 days for Him. Maybe an hour, who knows. God isn’t restricted in our concept of time because He created time.

For us, a 1000 years is like about 12 to 13 generations, I mean, I can’t imagine ever seeing my grand kids or great grand kids, I can’t fathom seeing 12 generations and I suspect my ancestors wouldn’t have suspected their family to move to Australia.

To us, 80+ years on this earth is all we have, but they are precious years, it is the precious resource that we have, time spent with Jesus.

1000 years is something that I can’t ever imagine, Jesus can come at any moment, even in our lifetime. But to God it is just a “fleeting of time”.