039 | Transcending Time 1
November 16, 2020
Minute of Transparency: Is Busyness the Enemy?
Today’s Topic: Transcending Time (Part 1)
In this episode:
A Brief History of Time
The Unique Week
Transcending Time
// 1. BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME
Time is one of the great equalizers. Like gravity - everyone experiences it the same way, and nobody is exempt from its effects.
You could say time is a big part of the Human Condition - and you would be right.
Time is integral to what it means to be human. Time manages our sleep-wake cycle, it allows us to schedule events in our day, and it allows us to define moments throughout our lives. Things like birthdays, holidays, weekends, seasons, the start of a new year - all of these are possible because of time.
So where did time come from? Interesting question considering time isn't something that impacts our Creator.
In the Bible, we learn that God has always existed, and will always exist. If this is true - time doesn't impact God - He exists outside time as we understand it.
In order to have time, you have to have a beginning. Time is based on the start of something.
This starting point, or beginning kickstarts the clock so to speak:
So time started for the Earth when the Earth was created
A clock started, and everything that happened from that point on has been marked as happening at a specific time
Time started for humans the day we were Created
The clock started and time has been marked from there on for all of humanity
And for each of us individually, our births happened at set time in history which starts our own personal clocks
We're born, we live and experience time for roughly 75 years
And when we die, that will be marked as happening at a set time in history
And even though time will continue, for us, it ceases to be important
But time isn't just a random byproduct of us being created - something God just threw in to make things interesting...
Time is actually hard coded into the DNA of the universe. Similar to the way the atom is the smallest unit of matter - and is in all things. Time exists for us in all things and through all things. Everything has a beginning and an end:
But how do we know this? And how do we measure our common increments of time?
Well, it isn't some random thing we came up with. It isn't manmade
Time is actually measured using the mechanics of our solar system. It's science, or maybe a better term for it is "celestial" or "astronomical"
So let's walk through each, and where they came from:
Starting with the smallest - the 24 hour cycle we call a day: A day is measured by the time it takes the Earth to rotate one time on its axis
Next is the 30 day cycle we refer to as a month: This is measured by Moon - which goes through one "phase" or what is called a "lunation" in roughly 30 days. This is the time it takes the Moon to from one New Moon to the next. A New Moon is when the Sun and the Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Moon
And finally, the 365 day cycle we refer to as a year: This unit of time is measured by the time it takes for the Earth to make one full orbit around the Sun
Now on some level we all know this - but when you really think it through - isn't it a bit otherworldly? A bit strange that the universe, and our solar system play that big of a role in our existence? That the time periods they form in their movements actually help define the way we live our lives?
I just find it fascinating...
But before we move on - we need to talk about a missing piece in the puzzle above.
Those of you who are really observant have already asked this question - but for the rest of us - I'll explain.
We talked about the day, the month and the year. But what happened to the week? Certainly there must be a celestial explanation for it as well?
Actually...no. There is nothing astronomical about the 7 day week.
// 2. THE UNIQUE WEEK
So where did this unit of time come from? And if there is no celestial reason for it, how did it become such an integral part of the way we mark time?
The simple explanation comes from the Bible...
There is no celestial reason for the existence of the week. Unless you consider God, Our Creator, celestial. Because God created the week.
It's there in Genesis where Moses explains how the Earth was created: Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
So He spent the first 6 days creating the Earth - and the 7th resting. And together that formed the first week.
It's there again in the 10 Commandments: Exodus 20: 8-11
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
And this was obviously core to the way people tracked time as you see it used throughout the Bible as a measurement of time.
Daniel 10:2 - I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.
Matthew 28:1 - Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn...
1 Corinthians 16:2 - On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside...
And it goes on and on throughout the Bible.
So we know the week has been a recognized unit of time since the very beginning.
And the only reason we have it, is because our Creator gave it to us. It's the one unit of time He didn't leave the universe to explain. He gave it to us directly.
But why? What's so special about the week that would cause Him to do this?
Well, Transcend Human suggests that the week is special because it includes the Seal of God - or the Sabbath Day.
I know. I know. It sounds like I just started speaking another language right? Seal of God sounds like it came straight out of some apocalyptic sci-fi movie. And the Sabbath sounds like something Jewish people talk about...
So let's look at both and then maybe we'll see why the week is so important.
First, the Seal of God:
A seal is something you place somewhere, or on a physical object in order to show ownership, control, or responsibility over it
People in Scotland have "crests" and specific "tartan" colors to show what family they belong to
Even street gangs use some form of this in their graffiti and their choice of colors
But a traditional seal consists of three elements:
The name
The title
The jurisdiction
For example - when the president gets up to speak - all three of these elements come together - typically because there is a seal visible on the front of the podium:
The name: Donald J. Trump (At least for the past 4 years)
The title: President
The jurisdiction: The United States of America
Of course the Seal on the podium only displays the last two elements, and the name of the person filling the office changes every 4 to 8 years
So what is the Seal of God then?
Well, to find it you have to look for a similar set of elements - the name, title and jurisdiction
There are over 50 places where this is hinted at - but one place specifically where the Seal is used to show God's ownership of the Earth, and His ability to require things
Interestingly enough it is placed right in the middle of the 10 Commandments
We read it above:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20: 8-11
In the verse - you see the three elements:
Name: The Lord Your God
Title: Creator
Jurisdiction: The heavens, the Earth, the sea, and all that is in them - so basically everything in the known universe...
Next, let's talk about the Sabbath:
Why did God throwing out His Seal in this way, in this verse, in the middle of the 10 Commandments?
Well, it seems pretty obvious - He wanted to make it very clear that the Sabbath Day was to be associated with Him
By throwing out the Seal, He showed us why He has the power to ask us to keep this thing called the Sabbath
It's because He is the Creator, and has jurisdiction over the Earth
So what exactly is the Sabbath?
Well, we could do an entire podcast series on that question - but for now - let's just keep it short and simple
The Sabbath (according to this verse) is a day of rest. A day where you cease from working, rest and spend time remembering that we were created by a loving God who still loves us and came to save us from the Sin Virus
Did you know there is a second set of 10 Commandments in the Bible? I mean they are the same 10 - they just appear in another place...
In Deuteronomy 5 they are explained again - only this time the 4th commandment changes a bit...
Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5: 12-15
Notice the subtle change? In Exodus, we're asked to observe the Sabbath Day because God created us. In Deuteronomy we're asked to observe it to remember that God saves us as well. For the Israelites - it was being saved from the Egyptians. For us today it is being saved from the Sin Virus through the gift Jesus provided by dying on the cross in our place
Crazy right? So observing the Sabbath is important for two reasons:
First, because we are acknowledging that God is our Creator
Second, because we are acknowledging that God Is our Savior
Simple as that...
So this is why the week is so important. Because it includes the Seal of God - which is the Sabbath Day.
// 3. TRANSCENDING TIME
So when it comes to the week - there are really two ways to view it:
Our way:
Self-centered
All about me
Use all 7 days exactly how I see fit
Rest if and when I need to - but not a high priority - maybe take a few days vacation each year and pretend to rest
God's Way:
Weekly cycle of sprint and rest
Sprint for 6 days
Rest for 1
So which plan is better? Well ours of course! Right? The one where we get to be in complete control? And aren't told what we can and can't do?
Yes... If that sounded selfish to you, it was. And that's the reason we like Our way. Because we don't like being told what to do.
But the obvious answer is God's way. I mean if God created us - wouldn't He know what is best for us? Doesn't Ferrari know the best way to drive their cars? Don't they understand how to maintain their cars? Don't they know what fuel is the best to use in their cars?
It's no different with us. We can push back all we want - but our Creator is ALWAYS going to know what's best for us...
And His plan is simple - like we said. He knows what is best for us - and that is to sprint for 6 days and rest for 1. Or maybe it would be better to explain it this way:
Enjoy the 6:
Do everything you need to do
Work, play, be entertained, create, oversee, manage, etc.
Protect the 1:
Rest, reflect, enjoy nature, be still, experience peace, etc.
You know - it's always funny to me when science catches up with God.
Scientists do a bunch of research, and throw out these amazing findings - findings that seem to defy logic. Isn't this amazing they say!
And then you look in the Bible and it was there all along.
“If science is done correctly it will never contradict the Bible. Because God created science.”
So what am I talking about?
Well, during this COVID-19 pandemic - science saw an amazing thing begin to happen:
People were quarantined
They weren't driving back and forth to work
They were only going out for the essentials
And what started to happen?
Animals started coming back out
Natural environments started flourishing again
Smog all but went away in areas typically plagued by its presence
And that's when science started to suggest things like:
Wow, maybe if we didn't work 7 days a week - it would have a positive impact on the environment!
Maybe if we were to just closed things down one day each week - what could that do?
Sound familiar? 6 days to do all your work, and rest on the 7th day?
It has been there all along - maybe we just didn’t want to see it - until a pandemic opened our eyes...
Let’s Land the Plane: So how do we even begin to step into this whole concept of Sabbath Keeping?
Like I said before - we are just scratching the surface when it comes to the Sabbath discussion:
We could do an entire episode on the day of the week debate:
Is the true Sabbath actually Saturday? The 7th Day Sabbath?
Is it Sunday? What we now refer to as The Lord's Day?
We could do an entire episode on what a typical Sabbath Day could look like
And we could do an entire episode on this idea that the Sabbath is the Seal of God
This verbiage is used in the Book of Revelation
And the people who overcome the world in the end are said to have the Seal of God - so there are definitely End of Time implications as well
But for now - let's keep it simple.
Here is a high level resource you can start with right away:
Website: https://www.24sixlife.com/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1982116862?tag=simonsayscom
This week wrestle with the following:
Is the Sabbath concept new to you?
If so - do you buy into it?
And if so, what is your next step?
What would it look like for you to test out God's way for the next month or so: Choosing to sprint and rest each week?
I'm not going to pretend I have this all figured out. I struggle with 7 day selfishness all the time. And I was raised knowing what the Sabbath was!
So this is something for each of us. If we're able to give up a little piece of control over our lives - what amazing things could happen for us?
Like the smog going away in downtown New Delhi, India during the Coronavirus lockdown - what could be cleaned up in our lives if we just spent one day resting?
That's my prayer for each of us this week - and for our future health!
Thanks for joining me on the show today - until next time - keep Transcending Human!
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