In this issue of the Living Church News, we are noting 25 years of the Tomorrow’s World telecast and magazine. That milestone reminds me of when I graduated from high school. Over the next several years, many of my friends’ parents celebrated their silver anniversary of marriage. That seems like a long time when you are a young adult, but how that perspective changes with time!
Time, like the weather, is something everyone talks about, but no one can truly change. It appears to pass slowly when we look forward, but quickly in retrospect. Five minutes is an eternity for a child waiting for an ice-cream cone, and a parent taking children to see grandparents is barraged with cries of, “Are we there yet?” Older adults, on the other hand, look back and wonder, Where have all the years gone? We also hear “How time flies!” and “Children grow up so fast.”
Thousand-Year Days
The Bible has much to say about the difference between how God and man see time. “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). What are we to make of this verse? What is its point? We learn much about God’s plan from the last half of the verse: “a thousand years as one day.” But what about the first half—“with the Lord one day is as a thousand years”?
In effect, Peter is saying that time, though inflexible, is not as important as what we do with it. “Time flies” with God—a thousand years may pass, and it seems as a single day. Yet, at the same time, God is efficient beyond our understanding in His use of time—He can do a lot in a day! Consider the days of creation.
Dr. Meredith often quoted from Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive about time and how we use it: “Time is totally irreplaceable.… It is the one truly universal condition. All work takes place in time and uses up time. Yet most people take for granted this unique, irreplaceable, and necessary resource. Nothing else, perhaps, distinguishes effective executives as much as their tender loving care of time.”
God is the most effective executive. Though He has plenty of time, He uses it wisely. This is one reason why it is said, “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years.” We often hear that God lives outside of time and space, but what does that mean? God placed the sun, moon, and stars where they are to mark time. “Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years’” (Genesis 1:14). Time in that context was created for mankind. We measure time by the sun, moon, and stars.
However, we may also understand time in terms of sequence—this is done beforethat. For example, God created the angels before He created the universe and our earthly home, and they were able to rejoice in God’s handiwork because they were created first. God challenged Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4–7). Clearly, there was a time when God laid the foundations of our earthly home. This came in sequence after He created the angels. So, while God exists outside of measurable time and space, it is not as though time, in terms of sequential events, does not exist.
God reminds us about time in His word. And since it is, as Drucker wrote, “totally irreplaceable,” God is concerned about how we use it. He reminds us of the difference between a never-ending life and a limited life. “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night…. 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 90:4, 10). God desires that we “number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (v. 12).
Our physical life carries with it an expiration date. When we are young, we usually think it is so far off that it will never arrive. But, as it draws closer, we increasingly understand the limitations of time. The earlier we learn to “number our days” and act upon that understanding, the wiser, more sober-minded, and more productive we should become.
The Parable of the Talents
Our ability to achieve more in this life is, to a degree, dependent on the natural gifts God gives to each of us. We see this in the Parable of the Talents. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey” (Matthew 25:14–15). The remainder of the parable shows that God rewards each of us according to what we do with what we have. The one with five talents doubles them to ten, and the one with two doubles them to four. God is equally pleased with both servants. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’” (vv. 21, 23).
God is only displeased with the servant who does nothing with the opportunities given to him. Consider the words wicked and lazy in the parable:
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man…. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant…. take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents…. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 25:24–26, 28, 30).
One man of great accomplishment was Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Clearly, he was a man of great talent and energy. However, he struggled in his early life with his use of time. He describes in the first volume of his Autobiography that he accomplished much when he was focused, but was unproductive at other times. And he often said that he had to learn to “drive” himself. But what does that mean?
Certainly, it means that he had to fight against his natural tendencies to “take it easy” and instead make hard decisions to do what was most important. Is this not where “the rubber meets the road”? Most of us have the human tendency to take the easy path. Put two jobs in front of us and we will likely choose the easier of the two. So, to drive oneself means to go against that tendency and make the conscious choice to do the task that is harder but more important.
The Parable of the Sower
Opportunity and drive are key to the Parable of the Sower. In it, we find four categories of people who react differently to hearing the word of God. We are familiar with those who receive seed by the wayside, to whom “Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:15). That does not fit most of you reading this article.
The second group is made up of those who have very little depth of character. They are immediately joyful upon hearing the word of God, but when times get tough—often because of opposition from family, neighbors, or coworkers—they quickly turn back. This might apply to a few of you, but the third category is a greater problem for most of us who have grown past the first two categories. These are the ones who allow “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in [to] choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (v. 19). The cares of this world more readily appeal to our human instincts, and often involve easier or more pressing choices to make.
Then we come to the last group, which I trust applies to most of you reading this article. “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred” (v. 20). Have you considered what the last portion of that sentence means? Even among those who will be in the Kingdom of God, some will have produced more than others—some thirtyfold, some a hundredfold, and some in between. Why?
We know that we are saved by the grace of God. We cannot earn eternal life by our efforts—it is a gift from God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—but the Bible tells us that we are rewarded in the Kingdom of God according to our works (1 Corinthian 3:8; Matthew 16:27). The two factors that appear to be most relevant are the gifts of God that manifest in our natural abilities and what we do with those gifts—the hard choices we make. This is part of the message of the Parable of the Talents. Not everyone is given the same number of talents. But, as shown by the man who buried his talent, it is sadly possible to do nothing with what we are given.
Note, by the way, that a “talent” in the parable refers to a unit of money. Over time, the word has taken on the meaning of a gift or natural ability—we use it today in such contexts as musical ability or other aptitudes. It is important to understand this parable in its spiritual context.
Two Determinants of Achievement
Solomon counseled us, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Though God is not limited by time and space, we are. And every day we have a choice before us—to take the easy way or the productive way. It all comes down to our willingness to make hard choices—to drive ourselves to do what has lasting value. Drive and choice must not be separated.
The Apostle Paul warns us of the dangers of falling asleep spiritually. “Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:14–17). To “walk circumspectly” means to live with our eyes wide open, to look around and understand the times in which we live—to see the big picture!
Paul also warned the Romans, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). This is a universal truth, for every day we are one day closer to the end of our life’s story in the flesh. Whether the end of the age is near or far, it is closer today than it was yesterday. People walking circumspectly recognize that we are not living in normal times. Our world is immensely more dangerous and closer to Armageddon than when the Tomorrow’s World magazine and telecast began 25 years ago. We never know from one day to the next what world-shaking surprise awaits us.
Paul addressed the brethren at Thessalonica about what he thought at that time was the end of the age:
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:1–8).
Paul may not have understood how much time would pass before the end of the age, but this should not tempt us to shrug off what we see in our world today. Jesus warned that some at the time of the end will think He is delaying His coming (Matthew 24:48–51). Many Church members thought the end would come in the 1970s—then left God’s truth when that proved untrue. So, while we know certain events must first take place, we are warned to watch and be ready. “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!... But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:32–33, 36).
A Balanced Life
Continuing his admonitions to the Romans, Paul wrote, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:12–14).
The context here is not learning to play the piano, though that is a profitable pursuit, but casting off “the works of darkness”—overcoming our human nature that gives in to the easy path of a sinful lifestyle.
It is easy to spend excessive time on video games, television, or social media. It is not so easy, at least for many, to learn a new language so you can communicate with brethren near and far. It is a challenge to learn to play the piano so you can contribute to Sabbath services. It takes persistence to exercise daily to contribute to good health. And let us never forget the need to pray, study, and fast. Doing right and profitable things focuses our attention away from frivolous pursuits that can become bad habits taking us away from our calling and relationship with our Creator. These are choices we make.
Does taking “tender loving care of time” mean that we can never do anything we enjoy? Not at all! We find Abram “sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day” (Genesis 18:1). When the Apostles returned to Christ after their journeys, He “said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves” (Mark 6:31–32).
The truly Christian life is one of balance, but balance means different things to different people. What it should mean to each of us is that we must walk circumspectly. We must honestly examine our habits and decisions. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5). We must be aware of how we spend our time. If we are as the individuals who did nothing in the Parable of the Minas and the Parable of the Talents, we may end up on the outside of the Kingdom. But if we have sown on good ground, we will produce greater or lesser crops. The size of our crop will be determined by how much effort we put into wisely using the God-given ability we have been blessed with.
Twenty-five years is a long time or a short time, depending on whether we are looking forward or backward. We may celebrate what God has done through His work. We can collectively be thankful for Dr. Meredith and his leadership, as well as for the fact that God has used all of us to continue supporting His work here on earth.
So, where will we be in a year—in five years, ten years, or 25 years from now? Mr. Armstrong used to say, We must work as though it all depends on us and pray as though it all depends on God. Not a bad way to spend our time!