The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10, ESV)
A friend of mine, Lt. Col. Jim Buckman is a missionary currently deployed to the South Pole. On the other end of the globe, Greg Lutz, another chaplain from my denomination has been deployed to the North Pole. Jesus says you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8). You can’t get much more literal than that!
Eventually, you will travel so far south, you can travel no farther south. Eventually, you will travel so far north, you can travel no farther north. The poles mark the limits of the earth. There is a measure that marks the end.
We live in a finite world. There is a limit on everything. Think of all the things that have limits. There is a limit to the natural resources. There is a limit to the amount of money available. There is a limit to hours of sunshine in a day. There is a limit to your energy for a given task. There is nothing you will find on this earth that does not have a limit. Everything will eventually run out.
Our time on this earth has a limit. Someone who has been diagnosed with a terminal disease will say that they are dying. But the truth of the matter is that we are all dying. Some may live longer. Some may live shorter. But all of us have our days numbered.
These limitations may cause fear. It may lead some to feel as if they are imprisoned. Does the limits of your life cause you fear and worry? Or is this something that is incredibly freeing? Consider the following.
This world is ending. Praise God! God put a limit on the constraints of this world because we are made for more. We were made for an eternity where we are freed from all the limits of this world. For a believer, we rejoice that every day that passes by we are one-day closer, not to the end of all things, but the fulfillment of all things. There is an end to the pain, suffering, and evil that fills this world.
Chronos vs Kairos
There are two different Biblical words for time. There is “chronos” time and “kairos” time. “Chronos” time is the measure of time. It is minutes, days, weeks, months, and years. “Kairos” is more about timing. It is not the measure of time, but the alignment of time. It is that God aligned your life to coincide with this time in history. God knows what he is doing. He created you to live in this time and place. You were made for now.
Too many people are living fearful of the finite. They are fearful that when it all runs out, it will be all gone. They are living with a scarcity mindset because all they have to live for is this finite world. All they know is “chronos” time – and the clock keeps ticking drawing closer to when time will run out.
Our culture has created an acronym for this mindset. It is FOMO. It stands for the “Fear Of Missing Out.” We are all affected by FOMO to a degree. We all have things in our life that we fear missing. But how many people find themselves spent by adding needless stress to their lives to be able to afford things that can’t afford? How many people come to the end of themselves by chasing every good opportunity that comes along because they fear missing it? FOMO leads us to grab what we can while we still can. We exhaust ourselves in the process.
You may live in a finite world, but realize you serve an infinite God. You don’t need to live in a spirit of poverty, trying to hold on to every moment. Know that you are empowered to live every moment as God intended you to live. He empowers you to live generous with your time, that even though your time may run out on this earth. God will have more than enough to accomplish all you have been given. It is not about having all things, but having the right things. There is no FOMO! We may miss out on some things in this lifetime. But there will be no end to the time we have in eternity to experience all good things. Kairos is all about experiencing all good things at the appropriate time. It is not about doing all things. It is about doing the right things.
Reflection
- Where is FOMO present in your life?
- Do the limitations of this life bring you fear or freedom? How does God empower you to let go of your FOMO?
Prayer
God of Eternity, you are without beginning nor end. Time is limitless with you. There is nothing missing in you. We too often get too focused on the boundaries of this earth and our lives. We fail to consider your infinite power and provision. You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing but we still fear we might miss out on something. Forgive our lack of faith and empower us to see your limitless provision in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
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