As the calendar flips to a new year, there’s a collective shift in how we view time. Suddenly, we’re hyper-aware of its fleeting nature. Whether it’s the start of a new year, a birthday, or even the experience of grief, these moments remind us how quickly time passes and how much we long to make the most of it.
This is a feeling Zacharias and Elisabeth from Luke 1 likely understood deeply. As they aged and remained childless, they must have felt the weight of time slipping through their fingers. Yet, their story beautifully reminds us of a profound truth: time is our constraint, not God’s.
Point 1: God Is Not Bound by Time
We often place God in the same box as ourselves, thinking His actions should align with our clocks and calendars. But God is eternal and timeless, existing beyond the boundaries of hours, days, and years.
When our prayers seem delayed or unanswered, it’s easy to grow discouraged, but this mindset overlooks God’s infinite wisdom. As Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.” His timing is always better, even when we don’t understand it in the moment. What feels like a delay to us is often His divine preparation, ensuring the outcome aligns perfectly with His plans.
I’ve seen this truth in my own life. When my father was living with us, we prayed often for his healing. He had been dealing with physical limitations, unable to move freely as he once could. It was a hard season, and we wanted so badly for him to be restored.
The very morning he transitioned to be with the Lord, one of my sons, who didn’t know about his passing, had a dream. In it, he saw his grandfather running and laughing—completely free. This was a powerful reminder to us that God had answered our prayers. His healing wasn’t bound by time or even this life. The Lord’s ways are beyond our understanding, but they are always perfect.
Point 2: God Operates in Eternity
Tim Keller described this beautifully: “It is the already, but not yet.” From God’s eternal vantage point, what He declares is already done, even as we wait to see it unfold. Think about our salvation—when Jesus declared, “It is finished,” it was settled for eternity. Similarly, the events foretold in Revelation are not just future possibilities; they are realities unfolding in God’s time.
This eternal perspective can be hard for us to grasp because we live within the constraints of time. But understanding that God’s promises are already fulfilled in His eyes can bring us immense peace and assurance as we trust His eternal plan.
Point 3: Living with an Eternal Mindset
The Bible challenges us to shift our focus from earthly concerns to eternal treasures. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). Similarly, Romans 8:18 reminds us, “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.”
This eternal mindset doesn’t mean we disregard our earthly lives or neglect responsibilities. Instead, it calls us to live with greater purpose, anchoring our hope in eternity with God. When we view our present struggles through this lens, they often shrink in significance compared to the boundless joy and glory awaiting us.
But this perspective also comes with a sobering truth: eternity without God is far worse than we can imagine. Hell is not merely a place of separation—it is an eternity of unimaginable suffering. Picture the most painful experience you can imagine—drowning, burning, or torture—and then imagine it continuing without end. That is what eternity without God is like. It’s not a scare tactic; it’s a reality that should compel us to share the Gospel and live intentionally for Him.
A Hope That Anchors Us
Eternity with God is the ultimate hope that sustains us. It gives us the strength to face today’s challenges, knowing they pale in comparison to the glory ahead. It inspires us to live with purpose, to share the Gospel, and to prioritize eternal treasures over earthly gains.
As we begin this new year, let’s focus less on the ticking clock and more on the timeless truth of God’s eternal plan. Let His perspective shape how we live, love, and lead others to Him.
