Advent Day 02 – The Fullness of Time
| “When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a virgin, born under Law….” Galatians 4:4
Time. We’re obsessed with it. I noticed as I was thinking through this article while driving that I had immediately available access to four different time-keeping devices. In the days of my youth, the song “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” by Chicago was playing continually on the radio. When the Bible speaks of time it does so using two different words. One word, “chronos,” is the common definition of time. It is linear time. Time in increments, measured in seconds and minutes and hours and days and weeks and months and years. It is time that we all live with, or live enslaved to in our culture. But there is a second word also translated “time” in English. That word is “kairos.” That word is “pregnant” time. It is a word filled with expectancy. The difference is the difference between “moment” and “momentous.” We actually live with both. “Chronos” is something we are aware of constantly. “Kairos” is something we can miss. “Kairos” is our opportunity, a chosen season that God selects to do something momentous through us or for us. It is the “pregnant” pause or the moment about to give birth to something new. That was the word the Apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to use in describing Christ’s coming. When time was fulfilled, when the moment was right, when the expectancy of Christ’s coming was about to give birth… that was “the fullness of time.” It takes no faith to live with “chronos.” Time does, indeed, march on (ahem, check the mirror) whether we cooperate or not. But “kairos” takes eyes of faith to see what God is up to in our days on earth. At Christmas, “chronos” and “kairos” intersected. The eternal Son, sent from God, became human, and lived under “chronos” time in our flesh for thirty-three years. Don’t waste “chronos” is always good counsel. “Live as wise people… and redeem the time (chronos). But while time should not be wasted, make certain you don’t miss the “kairos”… the opportunity God brings to begin something new in your life. “For now is the appointed time…today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 |
