Life is made of seasons and times, and the importance of understanding them has always been humongous. For instance, we are told that the sons of Issachar had understanding of the times and therefore knew what Israel ought to do (1 Chr. 12:32). Unfortunately, such knowledge is not prevalent nowadays. In our age of hesitation, and at times of blunders, one can only wonder if the times are being understood. Today, I will write about a special time. A time that is somewhat confusing and misleading, namely, “The time between”.
“The time between” defined
We read in the Book of Ecclesiastes:
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted” (Eccl. 3:1,2).
Here the second verse implies five different times: The time before one is born, the time of his birth, the time between his birth and his death, the time of his death, and finally, the time after his death. So here one of the five times is: “the time between”. In this post I will focus on a specific “time between”, namely, the time between a decision and its manifested results. Obviously, this “time between” can last a few hours, or maybe a few years, or possibly a lifetime.
I have said earlier that this specific “time between” can be very confusing, and the confusion is generally engendered by what might happen or not happen during the time between. Let us begin here with the “nothing happens”.
The “nothing happens” considered
At times, it appears that a wrong decision doesn’t produce negative results, and that a right decision doesn’t produce positive results. Actually, no results seem to ensue from a personal decision, either bad or good. For instance, brother Allan might make a despicable decision and—in all appearance—might reap nothing negative. Likewise, sister Alice might make a righteous decision and—in all appearance—might reap nothing positive. This sort of apparent vacuum can be very misleading and carries under its wings the potential to hoodwink the observer.
In regard to the “nothing happens” Jesus’ words are worth ruminating:
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matt. 7:24–27)
So here we have two men who, at one time, built their respective houses. Let us call them Albert and Richard. Before the construction began, Albert gives heed to the advise of an experienced engineer and invests money and effort to establish his future home on a solid foundation. Unfortunately, a large amount of earth has to be removed before reaching the rock below, which of course requires much time and money.
On the other side of the fence stands Richard taunting Albert: “I don’t understand why you listen to this engineer. Obviously he is fooling you. He must receive a percentage from the firm that makes the digging. This ground is hard as a rock. One thing is sure! I will not listen to this sort of charlatans. You can let these pretenders bamboozle you if you want but I won’t.”
So there goes Richard’s construction. He is building up while Albert is digging down. Needless to say, Richard finishes his house before Albert. Added to it, Richard’s home is more impressive than Albert’s because he didn’t invest much on the foundation. All of his budget went on what can catch the eye of the observer. To make things worse, as the years pass, he repeatedly reminds Albert of his gullibility, and this, with a very sarcastic attitude.
Eighteen years after, a third person appears. His name is George. He is planning to build a house on the other side of Albert’s home. Surely enough, another engineer counsels George to dig deep until the solid rock is reached. But here comes the catastrophe. The time between, advocated by Richard, outwits George. “George, believe me,” says Richard, “there is no point to dig. Look at poor Albert over there. Time has demonstrated that the engineer duped him. Look at my house. There is not even one crack on its walls.” So, with peace in his heart, George listens to the counsel of Richard and begins building upward right away. Four years after George had finished his house a surprising tempest arises, one Richard has never seen. After nineteen days of unremitting rain and gale-force winds Richard’s house collapses. George, in a state of absolute panic, runs to the engineer, asking him if anything can be done. The answer is negative. “It is too late”, answers the engineer.
What I am saying is that “the time between” has the potential to mislead the unwise and dupe the one who is dull of hearing. The point Jesus is making in Matt. 7:24–27 is that what is true in the physical world is also true in the spiritual and moral realm. The Ecclesiastes had rightly noticed the power of “the time between” when he wrote:
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
Believe me! “The time between” has misled many unheeding Christians and its power has not vanished through the years. So let us pray and watch, and above all let us give heed to the divine counsel at the point of action.
On my next post we will have a look to the deluding force of the “something happen”, that is, during “the time between” a decision and its eventual results.
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