Gerry Organ
Guest Columnist

One summer, Canadian Kodak hired me as student labourer. I was responsible for cutting the grass, which included meticulously trimming the lawn-bowling green for the executive staff and others who rolled the balls at lunch time. On rainy days, however, I was most unproductive. Those days forced me to find creative ways to kill time. I did not want to be seen sitting around, but what else could a grass-cutter do during those wet episodes?

Time is a mystery that has captivated humanity since creation. Millions of words have been written about time; the use and misuse of this commodity, particularly in the workplace. Time-measurement experts are often deployed to see if some efficiency could shave precious seconds or minutes off a production line. Workers are seldom rewarded for killing time.

Despite its mysterious nature, there are some universal truths when considering time. It appears to have no beginning and no end. Keeping time depends on the sun, the moon, and the complexities of various calendars. In modern days, keeping time also depends on your relativity to a place called Greenwich, which is the sacred holder of “Mean Time”.

If you want to blame someone for time, point to the Egyptians. They were the first to create the 24-hour day. Later, the Babylonians, Greeks, Chinese, and Romans also used instruments to tell time.

Luke shares that there is a time of temptation, while John writes that, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son.

The Bible also has a fair bit to say about time. God wasted no time in creating the world. In six days He completed His work and therefore He rested on the seventh day. He informed His Creation, you and me, that we have perhaps 70 or 80 years to live our lives here on Earth. He gave explicit instruction as to how we are to invest that time.

Scripture implores us to redeem the time, for the days are evil. Solomon declares that there is a time to mourn and time to dance, a time to get and a time to lose, a time to love and a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace. Psalms reminds us that our time is short. Matthew declares that the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom has come. Luke shares that there is a time of temptation, while John writes that, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son. The Book of Revelation boldly proclaims that the time has come to reap, for the harvest of the Earth is ripe.

Work, rest and relaxation, sports, and entertainment are not necessarily time-wasters.

There are, in essence, two ways for you and me to deal with time: either we redeem it or we waste it by killing time. Any endeavour committed to the purposes of God is redemptive in nature. Any activity under the sun that does not accomplish His plans and purposes could be categorized as wasting or killing time.

Work, rest and relaxation, sports, and entertainment are not necessarily time-wasters. It all depends on your position in Christ and His position on the throne of your heart. Does He have first place there?

Time is precious. It is a gift of grace. Invest it wisely and for His glory and for His purpose.

Gerry Organ is a former kicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders. He leads Yield Ottawa under One Way Ministries.