Killing Time
“When you kill time, just remember it has no resurrection.” Anonymous
How we view time will certainly have a bearing on how much of it we kill. According to recent Pew Research polling, 40% of Americans believe that we are living in the end time. The prophet Daniel spoke of it as the time of the end. Similarly, Paul the apostle said this, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1).
Christ spoke clearly of the end time as well. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21–22). How many times in this present year have we been reminded of the nuclear capabilities of one power or another as conventional wars rage on? The only question is, “When will the nukes be used?”
Christ promises intervention in order to stop human self-annihilation for the sake of His elect, still living. So, this group of people will obviously not have been killing time in their spiritual lives, but making wise use of it.
In reality, however, we know that the faithful can lose track of the urgency of time if they allow it. “Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:14). The warning is sharp because Christ’s return is eminent!
Rather than killing time, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). The elect are to walk carefully – to take special pains to guard against going with the flow around them. Christ won’t intervene in the end for the wise who have allowed foolishness to lull them to sleep.
The elect view time differently, “…redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:16–17). God’s elect diligently buy up the moments being wasted by the masses. They take every opportunity to sharpen their spiritual minds so as to understand and then eagerly apply God’s will in each valuable moment, just as Christ did while among us.
Time killed has no resurrection, just as those who foolishly kill it have no good resurrection to look forward to. The elect, however, will faithfully redeem it until their change comes!
Marshall Stiver
