II Corinthians 6:1-2, says, "Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life GOD has given us. GOD reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; the day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate GOD's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing..." (Message Bible Translation)
I was speaking with a friend on last night and the conversation took a turn towards the notion of losing an hour (as it relates to daylight savings); this brought back to reflection the words of my grandfather and pastor, the late Archbishop Arthur L. Posey who taught us that, 'nothing is ever lost in GOD,'; therein, I suggested that we have not lost an hour in spring nor gained an hour in the fall, the time is simply what it is right now.
Has anyone ever taken time to even understand what it is (time, that is)? Now understand that time in our leading text from II Corinthians 6 is from the Greek word 'Kairos'. Kairos means, the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment). The ancient Greeks had two words for time, 'chronos' and 'kairos'. While the former (chronos) refers to chronological or time in sequential order, the latter (kairos) refers to a time lapse, a moment of indeterminate time in which everything happens. What is happening when referring to kairos depends upon who is using the word. While chronos is quantitative, kairos has a qualitative, permanent nature.
In the New Testament kairos means, "the appointed time in the purpose of GOD", the time when GOD acts (i.e., Mark 1:14-15, "After John was arrested, JESUS went to Galilee preaching the Message of GOD: "Time's up! GOD's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the message.") Kairos (which is found at least 81 times in the New Testament) seems to be an indeterminate time, a "moment" or a "season". Whereas chronos (which is used 54 times in the New Testament) refers to a specific amount of time, such as a day or an hour.
In a secular context, time is defined as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
I don't konw if in 1895 the conversation of adjusting our clocks included the understanding of Divine Providence (as indicated in the plain sense of the term) that GOD is continously active, every day and in every detail, and that supernatural (miraculous) Divine Providence is not limited to revealed miracles, but that also in the ordinary daily life there is miraculous intervention, except that the one to whom a miracle occurs does not recognize he's been blessed by the very HANDS of GOD.
It would be well to add some pertinent points, and to bring out a practical message of the whole thought. Supernatural (miraculous) direction can come in two forms: (a) Revealed miracles, such as the miracles which accompanied the liberation of Israel from Egypt, this is to say miracles which are entirely above and beyond the natural order, and at complete variance with nature: (b) Miracles on the order of the Miracle of Purim (I speak about that in another post entitled: "Where are We?", which was clothed in natural garments.
The miracles of the Exodus from Egypt, beginning with those that took place in Egypt, right up to and including the liberation of an entire people, "young and old, sons and daughters," after centuries of enslavement in a land from which even a single slave could not escape; an Exodus, moreover, with "upraised arm" (in broad daylight and honor) and "with great substance", these were events which everyone clearly saw as revealed miracles.
Different was the Miracle of Purim, for although also, in this case, there were miracles, to the extent of a complete "reversal" of circumstances, culminating in extraordinary triumph, as expressed in the words, "For the Jews there was light, joy, gladness and honor", nevertheless, the miracle of Purim was "clothed" in natural developments: Esther becomes queen; Mordechai gains a place "at the gate of the palace" and saves the king from an assassination plot; Esther intercedes with the king to annul the decree, etc., as all these events are related in the Megillah; although every event individually, and especially the congruence of all the events, "in those days at this season, "into a predesignated pattern, was obviously miraculous, as we acknowledge this many times in prayer on Purim, referring to the "miracles, deliverance, mighty deeds, salvation, wonders."
Divine direction within the natural order, likewise, takes two forms: (a) Direction that "outwardly" is entirely natural; (b) direction in which Divine Providence is clearly in evidence. An example of the former, is the course of sowing and reaping: To plant, and later to harvest, is entirely natural, so much so that in order to discern Divine Providence also in this natural order, one must ponder deeply about the way in which this Providence, extending to every detail, causes the congruence of a variety of natural phenomena, such as winds, rains and sunshine, etc., each in the right time and the right measure, to produce the desired results.
The second, an easily discernible form of Divine Providence, is what people commonly call "success," "good luck" (Mazel), "windfall," and the like. These terms do not say what the thing is, but rather what it is not, namely, not personal achievement, i.e. not the result of special intelligence or hard work. However, the Torah (the books of Law) tells us the real truth, that such Mazel (mazel tov) is the gift of Divine Providence, the Divine blessing in the three general areas of human needs, namely, "children, life and sustenance," real and extraordinary Nachas (joy) from children, exceptional good health, and extraordinary Hatzlocho (success) in Parnoso.
This, then, is the point that was emphasized in previous blogs, to be learned from the distinction of the month of Nissan as "This month shall be unto you the first of the months." By ordaining the Jewish people to count all the months of the year from Nissan, the month whose significance is contained in the fact that "in it you came out of Egypt" through the intervention of revealed Divine miracles, the Bible teaches us that such is the essence of the Divine conduct of the universe throughout all the months of the year, whether it expresses itself in revealed miracles, or in miracles which are dressed in "natural" garments; or when Divine Providence is in evidence, or it is totally obscured by the natural order — in each all these forms it behooves the Jew (and us Gentiles) to know and remember that GOD is the Creator of the world and the sole and exclusive Master of the world, and that HE directs the whole world in all its details; certainly the "small world" (microcosm), i.e. man, everyone, and in all details of his and her daily life.
In light of the above, it is self-evident, that every detail of a person's life, however "small" it may be, is subject to Divine directive, and it must be carried out in accordance with that directive, i.e. the will of the One Whose Providence extends also to that particular detail. Nothing can override it, or change it, for the "counting" has its roots in the month of Nissan, whose essence is the revealed miracles of the Passover Story.
I pray blessings upon your life and this ancient holy apostolic ministry. Now through the intercession of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, may the peace of GOD, which is beyond all understanding, keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of GOD and of HIS SON, our LORD. In the name of the FATHER, and of the SON and the HOLY GHOST. Amen…
The second, an easily discernible form of Divine Providence, is what people commonly call "success," "good luck" (Mazel), "windfall," and the like. These terms do not say what the thing is, but rather what it is not, namely, not personal achievement, i.e. not the result of special intelligence or hard work. However, the Torah (the books of Law) tells us the real truth, that such Mazel (mazel tov) is the gift of Divine Providence, the Divine blessing in the three general areas of human needs, namely, "children, life and sustenance," real and extraordinary Nachas (joy) from children, exceptional good health, and extraordinary Hatzlocho (success) in Parnoso.
This, then, is the point that was emphasized in previous blogs, to be learned from the distinction of the month of Nissan as "This month shall be unto you the first of the months." By ordaining the Jewish people to count all the months of the year from Nissan, the month whose significance is contained in the fact that "in it you came out of Egypt" through the intervention of revealed Divine miracles, the Bible teaches us that such is the essence of the Divine conduct of the universe throughout all the months of the year, whether it expresses itself in revealed miracles, or in miracles which are dressed in "natural" garments; or when Divine Providence is in evidence, or it is totally obscured by the natural order — in each all these forms it behooves the Jew (and us Gentiles) to know and remember that GOD is the Creator of the world and the sole and exclusive Master of the world, and that HE directs the whole world in all its details; certainly the "small world" (microcosm), i.e. man, everyone, and in all details of his and her daily life.
In light of the above, it is self-evident, that every detail of a person's life, however "small" it may be, is subject to Divine directive, and it must be carried out in accordance with that directive, i.e. the will of the One Whose Providence extends also to that particular detail. Nothing can override it, or change it, for the "counting" has its roots in the month of Nissan, whose essence is the revealed miracles of the Passover Story.
"Give up yourself unto the moment....The Time is Now"
I pray blessings upon your life and this ancient holy apostolic ministry. Now through the intercession of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, may the peace of GOD, which is beyond all understanding, keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of GOD and of HIS SON, our LORD. In the name of the FATHER, and of the SON and the HOLY GHOST. Amen…
In Persona CHRISTI
+KJC
