Time, Friend or Foe?

Time. It comes. It goes. But one thing it never does is return. Ding! Ding! Ding! That's why it is so important that we get decisions right the first time. Time comes with no do-overs.

While we recognize time as a necessary ingredient for the fruition of dreams, for the development of skills and relationships, and so on, we often make decisions without even thinking of what will happen down the line.

The true worth of a decision made in the heedless throes of youth, something that can feel so "right" when made, will only be revealed with the passage of time. Will it be gold? Or will it show destructive and worthless attributes? Hmm ... If the worth of those decisions will only be evident with the passage of time, how are we to avoid regrets?

"I think I'll sit this military campaign out," thought David. Just a simple little action. Just an inconsequential choice. Not. By not going where he was supposed to be, by slacking off in his kingly duties, he ended up seeing Bathsheba bathing and unleashing a whirlwind of evil on himself, his family, and his nation. Yes, he was forgiven—but the grievous fruits of those decisions followed him for the rest of his life (2 Samuel 11-12).

None of us know what we will face on any given day, what decisions we'll be faced with. But God does. Nothing catches Him by surprise (Isaiah 46:10). While we can't see down the road to see how those decisions will play out—God can, and does. So if we long to make wise decisions, we should practice leaning on Him, He who knows the end from the beginning, looking to Him to guide us to the right path, the path whose golden worth will be proven with the passage of time.

And exactly how will we lean on Him?

"Master, if that's You, tell me to go to You," Peter called out to Jesus as He walked on the water.

It was Jesus. He called to Peter, Peter left the boat, and he began to walk on the water. But then ... then he looked around and started dwelling on how impossible this was. He looked at the boisterous waves and the wind whipping every which way, and, fearful, began to sink. Immediately the Lord stretched out His hand and pulled him up. All Peter had to do was hold onto Jesus to finish that supernatural walk (Matthew 14:26-31).

The sands of time don't have to unleash iron chariot wheels that crush us. We don't have to follow the negative aspects of David's life. We can turn our face to Jesus, and, like Peter, when everything around us screams, "This doesn't make sense!" our choices will be sure, the fruits golden. Sure, we can't see Jesus's physical face right now. But He is the Word incarnate (John 1:1). We can look to Him, see Him and know Him, through His written word. That is how we'll learn His way, His thoughts, His commandments. His face revealed in His Word.

Wars and deadly natural disasters might be all around us, monumental life-changing decisions may overwhelm us, but we do not have to fear what time will unfold in our lives. If we lean on Him for direction, He will faithfully lead and guide us. Time will prove to be our friend, not our foe, the fruits of our decisions blessed.

And that, my friends, is how we enjoy a life lived with no fear, no regrets.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

"Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at they side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee" (Psalm 119:5-7).

"Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?" (Song of Solomon 8:5).