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H. L. Sheppard

Bulletin

June 2005

Times & Seasons

Time is a created thing. God did not make a mistake. His omniscient foreknowledge had already predetermined that life would be first confined to this brief segment of eternity called time, to prove itself worthy of a joyous eternity without end. Failure to pass the test of time would result in infinite separation from God and all that is holy. And so it was, that the Creator of all things created time to test His creation.

Then, of course, there are seasons-those compressed divisions of time that denote the elapsing of certain similar periods of life. Nature’s seasons reveal the coming and going of the planting of springtime, the harvesting of summer, the dying of autumn and the cold burial of winter’s icy frost. Human life follows a remarkably similar pattern. Babies are born, they grow up to become men, then reach the apex of life in the summertime of their brief sojourn upon earth. The gradual graying of autumn is ultimately consummated in the twilight of life’s white winter snows, when men go the way of all life, by tasting death, time’s brash conclusion to life.

It is no wonder then that the wise sage of Ecclesiastes said:

Ecc.3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

Divine Providence dictates that, during every season of time, there are specific, definite, unmistakable instances when extremely exacting and obligatory decisions must be made. The “Preacher” of Ecclesiastes makes it clear that men are allowed “seasons” to live or die with the consequences of decisions they have made at these exact points in “time.” Therefore, the “time” referred to in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, is not merely:

“A nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.” ^{^[1]}

Rather, “time” is a specific point in a “season” when an event takes place or a decision is made. Solomon is obviously, intentionally, necessarily transparent in his explanation of “time.” His definition is made crystal clear by the context of the holy writ. He states that there is a “time” for all things. “A time to be born”. Birth doesn’t take years, it occurs the instant the child exits the womb and begins breathing on its own. “A time to die,” occurs at the split-second when the spirit exits the body.

Men make decisions every day during an instant of “time,” that will impact a “season” of their life. When these decisions have eternal implications, it would be wise to carefully consider the choice made, the road taken, the prerogative exercised. One wrong choice, one errant, misguided, selfish, carnal decision could result in an entire season, a lifetime or even an eternity of regret.

If David had that instant of time, that fleeting moment of adulterous psychological flirtation when he nearly threw his kingdom away, if he could have back those few seconds, would he have risked everything to indulge his carnal human passion?

What price would Samson have paid, when the Philistines fell upon him and locked the real-life Bible Hercules in chains, if he could have risen up from Delilah’s lap as before and slew them all?

But alas, decisions made in an instant would force these great men and their people to suffer for an entire season.

And what decision have you made lately, in a moment of time, that you must now live with for a season? Have you made bad choices? Have you chosen wrongly, or wisely? The season for choosing has arrived. The “time” for choosing is here. Choose wisely, choose Jesus.

Josh. 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”