Time and Seasons

 

One of the distinguishing constituents that differentiate the heaven from the earth is time. Time being the yardstick or parameter with which specific events and occurrences are slotted and (pre)determined. Time was factored into creation as seen in Genesis 1:14 that says “and God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.” Therefore, the importance of time to mankind cannot be underestimated.

Right from the book of Genesis down to revelation, even to this very moment, time has been one cogent marker to events and circumstances. Let’s start with the flood in the days of Noah. The bible revealed to us some specific timeline before, during and after flood. Scriptures like “and Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.”  And “and the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.” And lots more.

These scriptures and others were not just time lined but are likewise for signs, and for seasons. You remember Jesus’ conversation with certain scribes and Pharisees concerning the sign they requested from Him? Jesus’ response is seen in Matthew 12:39 & 40 saying “³⁹but he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: ⁴⁰ For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Many scriptures in the old testaments including the last italicized text are pointers or signs to happenings in the new testament.

Going by with Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 says, the scope, happenings and the jurisdiction of time is revealed therein. The very first verse is the foundational verse into the understanding of other ten verses and even beyond.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” This first verse implies that there is a specified limit of jurisdiction to everything under the heaven. That’s why we were told the specific number of days, months and years where needed all over the bible including the book of revelation. These occurrences cannot exceed the allotted time, be it in days, months or years.

INDIVIDUAL’S TIME AND SEASONS

The scripture is littered with a few details of some certain individual’s time and seasons. In the likes of Abraham in relation to his son- Isaac, Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ and others. The most important remark in these people’s life is that there is an allocated timeline to everything that occurred in their life. Take Moses for example, until he was 40 years of age, it never occurred to him that he lived and needed to associate himself with the people of Israel as seen in Hebrews 11:24-26.

It reads “²⁴by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; ²⁵Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; ²⁶Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." It means that there are specific time and seasons before an incident or another when take place. And also, there is jurisdiction to limit of how long a season should last. The main emphasis here is that individual’s time and seasons is periodic. Time and seasons come and go. You may be passing through a rough and trough moment now, or even in times to come, remember that they are but for a moment.

How I wish we had enough time so that we can look at some men that went through an unpleasant or rough seasons in the bible. In the likes of Obededom, David, Jacob and many others. These people went through different time and seasons same as us. There are few scriptures I want us to always remember whenever we are going through certain seasons. Scriptures like 2 Corinthians 4:17 & 18, Hebrews 12:2,Psalms 30:5 and Romans 8:28. They read respectively thus: “for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 

THINGS YOU SHOULD DO IN ALL TIME AND SEASONS

There are a number is worth doing in ones time and seasons. They are:

1. Ensure you maximize all time and seasons. Such wonderful time and seasons might not show up again or might show up after donkey years. What then do I maximize my time and seasons? Here is how to maximize every time and seasons. First of all, don’t take any time and seasons lightly. Another way to maximize your time and seasons is by ensuring that you note and learn every bit and pieces of lesson God wants you to know by heart or experience. You remember David’s story? He learnt the duties of a shepherd in the wilderness by protecting the sheep that were committed into his hands with his very life in days’ lions and bear rose up against the flock.  You can thereafter challenge, confront and triumph over Goliath.
2. Always seek God’s face by spiritual intelligence with which you will navigate each and every time and seasons perfectly.  You will likewise the story of Joseph when he interpreted the dream of Pharaoh. That time and seasons of abundance and famine was coming upon the land that was going to affect Joseph and his family. God therefore gave Joseph the spiritual intelligence necessary for what is ahead. Divine spiritual intelligence will always make you be at advantage not necessarily in physical result or outcome only or at first.
3. Ensure you are not always obsessed with sharing your time and seasons with just anybody. I’m not saying you shouldn’t share them with men that can really be of help and can make such confidential. Always being obsessed with sharing ones time and seasons can result into either of two things. The first one is that ones time and seasons can probably be delayed. And the second one is that ones time and seasons can likewise be truncated. Although, these can even be God’s plan of fulfilling ones time and seasons. This is the working of God’s wisdom. Just as it happened to Joseph and even Jesus.

Thanks for reading.