Without God - Part 7: What Time Is This In Your Life?

 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…”

—Ecclesiastes 3:1

Have you ever stopped to consider what time this is in your life? What do I mean? I’m asserting that in our lives we have specific times or seasons through which we pass as we move from one time in our lives to another. If my assertion rings true for you, then I ask again, “Have you ever stopped to consider what time this is in your life?”

I like to think of myself as someone who has rather eclectic musical tastes. I’ve mentioned that before on these blog posts. I enjoy what is commonly called classical music—although “classical” is but one period in the development of serious music. I also enjoy what is sometimes called “God, Home, and Country Music.” I even enjoy certain more modern Country tunes.

I am not much of a rock music fan, but I have been a big fan—even a huge fan—of two major rock groups: the Eagles and the band that began as the Chicago Transit Authority, but for many years has now been known as simply Chicago.

I can hear the shouts from certain rock fans insisting that were it not for Joe Walsh, the Eagles would be considered mostly a Country-Ballad group. Similarly, these same critics would say that Chicago, with its heavy emphasis on brass instruments played by largely college music majors, is only marginally considered a rock group.

I would respond by saying that both groups have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And no matter what rock-purist-critics might say, these are the groups that I favor and the only ones for which I have collected all their available recordings and videos and for whom I would travel to see live and in concert. It doesn’t hurt that for the most part the founding musicians in these groups are people of my age or a little bit older. I identify with their musicianship, their emphasis on precision and quality, and their attention to musical details. Plus, I like the sounds they produce and the songs they sing.

But, back to my point: when I think of the “times of our lives” I always think of a particular “Chicago” song: “Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?” the next line of which states, “Does anybody really even care?”

At the end of his life, King Solomon cared. In fact, he cared enough that he penned these words found in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

No matter how we may choose to answer the question—“What time is this in our lives?”—we can move forward into this new day knowing that God has charted a pathway for us. His pathway includes every possible joy and maybe a few periods of testing, even sorrow. Each of these seasons in our lives will ultimately secure for us the best possible existence that He has to offer. As the Potter, He will shape us as His clay into the best form to serve His purposes and share His mercy, grace, and love with those around us.

I’ve quoted Adelaide Addison Pollard’s hymn several times over the years I’ve written this blog. It speaks to our response to the seasons of our lives:

Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Thou art the Potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me
After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Search me and try me,
Master, today.
Whiter than snow, Lord,
Wash me just now,
As in Thy presence
Humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Wounded and weary,
Help me, I pray.
Power, all power,
Surely is Thine,
Touch me and heal me,
Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Hold o’er my being
Absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit
Till all shall see
Christ only, always,
Living in me

May we pray this prayer today. Amen.

Here’s a ten-year-old appearance by the band Chicago appearing on the television program Ellen, singing the song mentioned in this blog post:

 

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