Which time-zone do you live in?

Some people seem to live in the moment, neither looking back much nor thinking further ahead than this evening. They enjoy each moment without a care about what comes next. No big plans or 'smart' goals; but alive to each encounter, savouring each impression, feeling each pain.

Then there are those who are future-oriented. They may be young people impatiently waiting for 'real' life to begin, or adults rushing on to the next goal, with plans for the future which need to be worked on and with no time to linger in the present. The past is gone and cannot be changed, the present is merely groundwork for a future which beckons. Their identity is not properly visible, for they live in their plans and what is yet to be.

Others live in the past, holding proudly to past accomplishments, or unable to let go of past mistakes and regrets. Their identity is what they have already been or done. The present is to enjoy their accomplishments or torture themselves over past failures, their future just more of the same. They may be old, feeling that life has already happened; looking back and waiting to die, existing, not living. But they may be young and afraid of the future, unable to move ahead, fearing the black hole of the unknown ahead.

Which time-zone do you mainly live in?

There are joys and pitfalls in each...

There is something good about remembering and enjoying our past accomplishments. And it is right to stop and admit, even weep over our past failings. Yet there can be a devilish deceit in living primarily in the past - for it encompasses pride for past achievements, or denies the possibility of Jesus' forgiveness for past sins; and it further implies that God has nothing more for us to do. On all three counts, this is false.

There’s something valuable about living in the present and those who live with a future-orientation too quickly dismiss it, underestimating the importance of treasuring each passing moment and living life to the full. And yet … the real risk for those who live entirely in the moment is that they meander aimlessly through life achieving little of lasting significance. And here, perhaps, a deceit of the Enemy is laid bare: “pursue happiness now”; “don’t worry about the future”. How well these comforting messages fit into our modern western world-view!

And there is also something good about looking to the future, setting a course and striving to achieve it. Yet there may be a deceit here too: "One day you will be somebody", while actually achieving nothing of consequence, not even being fully alive to the moment. It can be an avoidance of the present, or it may be dreaming a pipe-dream. It also contains a common deception, in thinking that the future is ours to plan - for God alone holds our future in his hands.


God’s attitude to time seems to be different to all these. He manages to have both a ‘grand plan’ stretching from before the beginning of time until eternity and yet to also be totally present in the moment. There’s no aimless wandering here; he has a very clear purpose. He is not side-tracked or distracted; his purpose will be accomplished. And yet he also has time to linger and make meaningful every brief encounter, time to address each fleeting concern that we take to him, time to enjoy each sunrise and smile, time to share our hurts and disappointments, and time to be alongside us in our despair.

But, we may say, God has a unique advantage when it comes to time, being eternal and all that. Yes - and no. Though our earthly lives have but a brief span set by God, he has nonetheless set the pattern for us.

So let us also pray that the Lord would help us to remember what he has done in the past and to give him the glory, while relinquishing our past failings into his forgiving hands; to live every unrushed moment fully with him, redeeming it for his eternal purpose; and to hold unswervingly to his call on our lives until we reach our eternal heavenly destination.