The title of this message is, “The Mystery of Time.” Pretty mysterious title, right? But if you really think about it, time is a rather strange, mysterious thing. Time can feel relative at times, but it’s also an objective, finite thing—according to human measuring systems. One hour is 60 minutes, which is 3,600 seconds. No more, no less. In this study, we’re taking a look at what the Teacher in Ecclesiastes has observed regarding humanity, God, and time.

First, go ahead and read Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. You’ll see that there are two different sections in this passage. The first 8 verses illustrate the idea that there’s a time for everything, and the last 7 verses focus more on humanity’s interaction with time. I’d like you to think about verses 1-8 and consider this first discussion question.

A Time for Everything

In English, we sometimes scold inappropriate behavior or words with the expression, “Now isn’t the time.” Maybe someone is making a joke during a very serious, solemn situation, like a fight between people, or a funeral. We recognize that there are appropriate, or even appointed, times for different things. There is, in fact, a time to give birth. Usually, it’s when the baby is fully developed. Not before, and not after. It would be problematic otherwise.

Or planting and uprooting. You plant the seeds when the soil is rich before the coming of warmer seasons. Certainly not in the winter. And you pull out plants when they’re 1) dead, 2) weeds, or 3) when they’re ready to be harvested. If you leave the dead plants or the weeds, they’ll take valuable resources from the other healthy plants you want to grow. And if you don’t harvest, the fruits and vegetables will rot and be inedible.

We mourn at funerals; we dance at weddings. We weep when we’re sad; we laugh when we’re happy. You search for your lost child; you give up finding that nickel you dropped. We love what is good, and we hate what is evil. There is war from injustice, and peace from resolution.

While we may not always enjoy these different seasons in life, they have their time and place. Even what we might consider bad (war, death, mourning, weeping) are sometimes appointed as the most appropriate course of action. Mysterious, isn’t it? That’s life. This is what the Teacher observed in all his wisdom throughout his lifetime.

Eternity in the Human Heart

Now, let’s think about the second half of this passage. We see the Teacher sharing his observations regarding how God has created us to interact with time. Go ahead and think about this second discussion question.

So what is eternity, exactly? The dictionary will tell you it’s infinite or endless time. But what does that imply? Well, eternity implies an infinite past as well as an infinite future. God placed a sense of past and future (and present, of course) into our minds. That’s why we have a sense of time in the first place.

Moreover, God also created a desire in humans to know the eternal significance of their lives and work. We’re always trying to find a deeper meaning or a deeper purpose in our lives. We want our work and lives to have some meaningful impact, whether we admit it or not. Some people say they’ve found their deeper purpose and are satisfied with life, and others are still yearning for something that will transcend them.

The Limitations of Humanity

However, though we have this sense and desire for eternity, we’re unable to fully perceive it. We can grasp the past and the future to some extent, but it’s impossible for us to completely comprehend the scope of eternity. We are finite beings, after all. Our bodies—our life as we understand it—is limited.

Have you ever tried to think deeply about eternity and what that might be like? It’s a freaky experience! I’ve done this several times in my life, and it almost always leads to a panic attack. It’s something that we as humans just can’t fathom. God created us with a sense of eternity, but without the ability to fully understand it.

God is Unaffected by Time

We’re also unable to understand all that God has done in the infinite past, and all that God will do in the infinite future. As the Teacher said here, everything that God has done endures forever. It’s completely unaffected by time! Time can’t add anything to the work of God, nor can it take anything away. Every act of God is exactly as God appointed it to be. And because God made it so, it is beautiful and appropriate in its time (much like the events listed in the first 8 verses).

Though our works and we ourselves are constrained by time, that is not the case for God. God is completely outside of time. He created it, but is neither limited nor ruled by it. This should leave us in awe of God and His masterful works throughout time.

Here’s how crazy it is. Verse 15 says: “Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before.” Whatever exists now, existed in the past. And whatever will exist in the future, has already existed, either in the now or in the past. And the now only lasts for a moment, and then is immediately thrust into the past. Time is pretty wild when you think about it. It’s a real mind-bender for us, but not for God.

Enjoy the Good Gifts of God

So, we were made with eternity in our hearts and minds, but are stuck in this limited, finite life. What are we to do with this? Frankly, it’s nothing we need to get upset about. We don’t need to despair over this. Rather, the Teacher insists that we should enjoy what we can enjoy in this life: eating, drinking, working, and doing good. In fact, when we remember that these things are gifts from God, we are then able to find some satisfaction from these things. Not because these activities have much meaning in themselves, but because they came from God, and everything from God is good.

We Were Made for Eternity with God

That being said, I think that God’s placement of eternity into our hearts points to something quite significant. God did create us for eternity. Death wasn’t part of the plan at the beginning of creation. God fully intended for humanity to live in communion with Him forever. But that plan got interrupted by humanity’s decision in the Garden of Eden.

And yet, God’s work is ultimately unaffected by time (or by us). We can still live in communion with God for eternity through Jesus. Jesus grants eternity back to us, and restores us to our intended condition. Though we may be unable to grasp eternity now, that doesn’t mean it’s out of our reach. Jesus will carry us there, and already has—on the cross, and in His resurrection.

Let’s thank God for His gifts to us, and for setting eternity into our hearts. And let’s seek Jesus, God in human flesh, who was, and is, and forever will be. May our relationship with God and with time be restored to God’s original, beautiful purpose.