The times, they are a-changin’

It's time to change our clocks ahead this Saturday night as we start Pacific Daylight time.

Daylight savings time originally started in New Zealand by a British entomologist who wanted more time to study insects after his shift work in the summer months. He was able to convince the government to adjust their clocks forward in 1933 after publishing two papers about the subject between the years of 1895-1933.

A pretty persuasive guy if you ask me!

With that being said, daylight savings time doesn't really save daylight and it doesn't actually change time.

It is merely an adjustment on the clock--a manipulation of a mechanical device that we adjust our schedule to.

Real time continues on. There are still only 24 hours in the day, and only so many of those are daylight. Daylight hours do change with the position of our planet, but one day is still one day.

In short, time doesn't change, but the seasons of our lives do.

In Acts 1:7, the disciples ask Jesus when he will restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus replies,

"It is not for you to know the periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority."

In other parts of scripture, it seems that the Lord believes we should be less concerned about the future and more focused on what's going on around us—and who is around us.

Jesus says in John 4:35,

"Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and then comes the harvest?' Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest."

When I read this passage, I envision Jesus trying to tell his disciples that the timeline they have in their minds may seem logical to them, but not to him.

Their first order of business was for Jesus to restore Israel as their own sovereign nation, eventually making all nations subject to Israel. His order was to invite all nations to be restored to himself and in due time he will reign over all nations.

Interestingly enough, just prior to this conversation he had with his disciples, Jesus had ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well. The Samaritans were a group of people the Jews despised, but Jesus was of a different mindset entirely.

And he calls us to be as well.

Jesus said to lift up your eyes and see what is around you, a field of people ready to harvest, and now is the right time!

We have all the time in the world to get this done because the hour and the day of Jesus return is set by God the Father—not father time.

Our desire to see evil abolished should not blind us to the harvest that's in front of us.

Restoration will come in the right time and season. Until then, let's make the most of the one we're in!

Blessings,

Dean