2 Peter 3:8-9, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Have you noticed that as you get older, time has passed by much quicker than you had thought possible when you were younger? Do you see your perspective of time differently? My mom told me during the last five years of her life, “How did you get to be the age you are now? How did that happen?” I feel the same about our children that are now parents themselves and we as grandparents. Psalm 90:4 was part of a prayer of Moses, known as “the man of God,” which says, “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” God’s perspective on time is not the same as ours, as is pointed out in this cross-reference verse of 2 Peter 3:8. God is waiting for more people to acknowledge their sin, repent, and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior before He breaks forth in judgment and we are to be ready.
We each get 24 hours a day to use. So, there should be a sufficient amount of time to spend working, serving others, eating, reading, enjoying the outdoors, exercising, recreation of choice, and hospitality with family and friends within each week. So how does one manage time effectively? Try asking the Lord what He wants you to do today. Then take it one step further. What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do today by using your Spiritual gifts for His glory along with God’s perspective of how your time should be spent? The best time management advice we can follow is this. Obediently do what the Lord is telling you to do in your circle of influence with integrity. “You’ll find you have plenty of energy, plenty of opportunity because, having given God your day, you can’t outgive Him.” Jon Courson, Daylight Saving Time. A Topical Study of 2 Peter 3:8. We are to do our best and leave the results with Him.
We need to live to serve the WHO as He is in charge of the HOW. Each of us has important work to do that God has given to each of us to be used for His glory until He returns and calls us home with Him. Meanwhile, He is giving as much time as possible for people to reach repentance and accept Christ as their Savior. We are to live with God’s perspective of time in mind. God has compassion in His purpose of timing. “As God is not willing that any should perish, and as he is willing that all should come to repentance, consequently he has never devised nor decreed the damnation of any man, nor has he rendered it impossible for any soul to be saved.” Adam Clarke.
Therefore, we are to live with the point of view that Christ could return today, tomorrow, or sometime in the future (which could be in our lifetime as you read this). For every situation, challenge, disappointment, unmet expectation, and dream, seek the mind of Christ. John 8:31b-32 declares, “Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Give God your day and remember, you may not have tomorrow. God’s perspective of time is not like our timetable. He is the great I AM, the WHO and in charge of the HOW.
Listen to Phil Wickham’s new Lyric Video song, “I Believe.”