“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it,” John 1:1-5.
“He, through Whom time was made, loved us so much He was made in time for us.” Augustine, qtd. in God Above All.
Christ came from outside time to experience its limitations–days that were too short–nights, too long. He suffered in time without relief or reprieve.
It’s hard for us to imagine being outside time. How often every day do we check the clock or wonder how to get to the next task or place on time? We vacillate between wishing for more time and hoping minutes would pass more quickly.
We understand that He placed us in time but did not intend for us to remain in it always.
“. . . He has also set eternity in the human heart . . .” Ecclesiastes 3:11.
Since eternity is in our hearts, we squirm under the pressures of time–too much or not enough during our earthly lives.
Even so, Christ calls us contemplate the true meaning of His birth, life, and death. He invites us to respond to His call and so find hope.
“He came to this poor earth of ours to carry on an exchange; to say to us, as only the Good God could say: ‘you give me your humanity, and I will give you my Divinity; you give me your time, and I will give you My eternity; you give me your broken heart, and I will give you Love; you give me your nothingness, and I will give you My all,” Fulton J. Sheen
This exchange requires our time and devotion. In our humanity, in time, with broken hearts, and in our nothingness, we find hope in Him.
This first week of Advent when we ponder hope, hush your waiting heart. Hush your hurrying heart. His all awaits. Welcome, Christmas. Welcome Christ.
Beautiful thoughts on the paradoxes of the Incarnation, Nancy.
Christianity is full of paradoxes. Thanks and God bless.
Amen. I pray we all share time with the Father.
Amen, Melissa. God bless!
Indeed, welcome CHRISTmas, welcome Christ. Thank you for your inspiring and encouraging words Ms. Nancy. Much to contemplate ma’am.
Thank you, JD. Happy contemplating of our wonderful Savior. God bless!
Nancy, I love this fresh view of Advent hope. We eagerly wait for the fullness of time for Christ’s return. Blessings!
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! Thanks, Annie. Blessings to you too!
Advent is such a blessed time of year and I love the way you shared about. Thank you
Thank you, Yvonne. Enjoy and find enrichment in this season. God bless!
Ah, so so beautiful — the concept of hushing our hurrying hearts. His all awaits. Amen, Nancy. Thank you for this!
Thank you, Jessica. His all does await. We (I) need to look beyond ourselves and the crumbling world around us. God bless!
Beautiful observations. I honestly had never considered how time would have impacted the Savior. Perhaps I missed this because He Himself had created time. These statements are powerful:
“He suffered in time without relief or reprieve. It’s hard for us to imagine being outside time.” Long nights and days too short would be terribly frustrating, and yet, we never sense this reaction from Jesus.
C.S. Lewis makes a profound discussion on the effects of time on us since we know in our hearts that we are eternal beings. It’s much to ponder. Thanks, Melinda. God bless!
This is a wonderful Advent post. I had to share it.
Thank you, Nancy.
Thanks so much, Connie! God bless!
What a great truths to contemplate!
Thank you, Donna. God bless!
Like, Melinda, I’d never considered the limitations of time on Christ. Christmas and Calvary both remind us to ponder hope. God bless, Nancy!
God bless, Karen. Thanks for reading and commenting!