Caring for Our Time

We human beings exist within the dimension of time and measure our existence in years. Ancient civilizations used sundials to mark the hours of the day. Over the centuries, mechanical clocks were developed, which eventually were spring-driven or perpetuated by a pendulum. Big Ben in London is the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world. Big Ben is actually the nickname of the Great Bell in the clock, but by extension, it can also refer to the clock itself and even to the clock tower.

The clock was started on May 31, 1859, and Big Ben first chimed the hour on July 11, 1859. But two months later, the Great Bell cracked and was silent for four years. During that period, the hour was struck on the fourth quarter bell.

Over time, conventional mechanical clocks have been largely replaced by electronic ones and even quartz clocks and watches.

Modern atomic clocks have reached an amazing level of precision. It is believed that strontium atomic clocks will neither gain nor lose a second for the next fifteen billion years. Today, we also hear about such standard times as Greenwich Mean Time, Time International Atomic, and Coordinated Universal Time, which aim at keeping our atomic clocks coordinated with the relationship between the earth and sun. As significant as measuring time might be, the most important factor relating to time is how we spend it. Ellen White counseled, “You can live this life only once.” “Life is mysterious and sacred. It is the manifestation of God Himself, the source of all life. Precious are its opportunities, and earnestly should they be improved. Once lost, they are gone forever.” Time is God’s sacred gift to each of us. We should consider it as precious as life itself is to us.

We cannot exist outside of time.

We cannot extend, shorten, or recover time.

The only thing we can and should do is determine our priorities and manage our lives to the best of our abilities within the time we still have.

The clock does not stop. Every moment has eternal consequences.

So, pause for a moment and reflect on how you have been spending your time. May the Lord help us to always spend our time wisely!