Just in Time
The concept of time is fascinating. Each day consists of twenty-four hours, 1440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. But all time is not the same. Everyone knows that “time flies when you’re having fun.” The Bible tells us of one occasion where time stood still (or at least the sun stood still Joshua 10:12-14). Perhaps even more amazing was when Hezekiah’s sundial reversed course and went backward. (Isaiah 38:7-8; 2 Kings 20:8-11). Scientists have struggled with these two events, but God can do anything.
Historical events notwithstanding, our interest in time is personal. From the Psalmist who said, Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NLT) And the apostle Paul who declared our responsibility to make the most of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16 (CSB). We know that time is a finite resource, and God’s word counsels us to use it wisely.
We have the word “time” in English, which covers many different meanings. New Testament Greek gives us Chronos, marking hours, days, months, and years. And there is the word Kairos, which is time drawn for a purpose or time made eternal by the presence of God. Chronos and Kairos are interconnected. Simply stated, a Kairos moment happens when heaven touches earth.
God uses time, both Chronos and Kairos, to accomplish his plans and purposes for us. His great desire is that we will always learn to trust him. What we see as delays or even detours is God’s way of preparing and positioning us to accomplish his purposes in us. God is never late, nor is he early. He always meets us “just in time.”
Hurry up and Wait
Patiently waiting is not high on the list of my character attributes. I am much happier when things go according to my schedule. I know I am not alone in my impatience because we live in a society that caters to instant gratification. We have fast food and microwave ovens. Streaming services offer on-demand movies and television to provide entertainment on our schedule.
We find many areas of life tailored for convenience and hurriedness. However, patience is something that God wants to develop in each one of us. In 1 Corinthians 13, we see that “love is patient.” God wants us to see and understand that he does everything well and is always on time when we need him. He is faithful, and he has never failed us. He wants us to come to a place where we completely trust him even when things don’t proceed according to our schedule. “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” Romans 5:6 (NLT)
God does not cater to our schedule because he wants to instill his character within us. We worry and fret over our circumstances needlessly. We are often stuck on Chronos time, bound by our clocks and calendars. God wants to meet us in a Kairos moment, but that requires waiting and patience. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 (NLT)
Just in Time
When the manufacturing of automobiles began to take place on assembly lines, the problem of maintaining an inventory of necessary materials and parts became increasingly difficult. On the one hand, production will abruptly halt due to the lack of a proper screw or bolt. On the other hand, the cost of maintaining excessive inventory could put a manufacturer at a competitive disadvantage.
The Ford Motor Company pioneered the “just in time” inventory management concept. In his book “My Life and Work,” Henry Ford said, “We have found in materials that it is not worthwhile to buy for other than immediate needs. We buy only enough to fit into the plan of production…”
However, it was God who pioneered the concept of just-in-time many centuries before Henry Ford. When Moses led Israel from Egypt into the Promised Land, God supplied their daily needs through manna. God instructed the Israelites to gather only enough for their immediate daily needs, partly because God wanted them to learn to trust him. And now, just as then, we must trust that God will meet our needs. He is always on time.
God’s Perfect Timing
How can we not be overwhelmed by joy at the thought of what God has done for us? “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT)
It was at just the right time Christ came into the world to die for the sins of all, and he came to us when we were helpless and enslaved by sin. What Jesus did for us is something worth getting excited about! The best witness for Christ comes from someone whose life overflows with joy and who is excited about what Jesus has done for them.
God loves us more than we can imagine. A crucial measurement of our maturity as believers in Christ is understanding and accepting that God does things at just the right time. He came to us when we were helpless and loved us extravagantly. I hope that we can get genuinely excited about that, and in doing so, we will let our light shine, and others will see that God has made a difference in us. God is always on time.
The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi used to tell his players to show up for practice at least fifteen minutes early. Any later than that, and they would be considered late. We want God to adhere to “Lombardi time” because it would be easier and less stressful. We want this because we prefer comfort and convenience to living by faith. When God does arrive at the point of our need, He is always “just in time.”
Steve Ekeroth
Photo: Astronomical Clock, City Hall, Oslo Norway-Steve Ekeroth