As I conclude on these 2 different views on time and how we perceive it in our daily lives, I must highlight these thoughts with a "Kairos" moment in time that Jesus Himself seemed to embrace...
As previously mentioned, the "Chronos" mentality states each moment of our lives are equally important and as each moment passes before us...they are seemingly lost...not to be regained. As the saying goes "Time marches on"..and we must find ways to make-up for that time.
The "Kairos" train of thought is not so...it does not always measure our time by the passing of each moment of our lives. "Kairos" dictates there is a right time for everything...even in instances where time is or has seemingly passed, or there seems to be no hope of recovery for a given situation we may face in life.
Jesus demonstrated this train of thought...in the story of Lazarus.
In the Gospel of John, a rather interesting story has been recorded. It is the story of a man who actually died...and remained dead for 4 days. In "Chronos" logic, it is time to accept the outcome for the time of this man, Lazarus, had come and gone. It was perhaps a time to cherish his memories, mourn for his absence, and move on in life.
Yet...Jesus did not do this....
In chapter 11 the story begins: Lazarus lived with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the same Mary who had earlier anointed Jesus feet with an expensive perfume and then wiped his feet with her hair. These sisters had sent a message to Jesus that his dear friend Lazarus...their brother...was sick.
When Jesus received this message, He was in Perea, which is just north of the Dead Sea, a place where John the Baptizer was suppose to have baptized people in an outward display of repenting of sin in their lives.
Lazarus, along with his 2 sisters lived in Bethany near Jerusalem, about 20 miles from where Jesus was located. It was somewhat of a touchy situation in relation to Jesus and the Jerusalem area. By this time in Jerusalem the Jewish hierarchy had already put plans in place as to how one might kill Him...looking for that opportune moment when a plan of this magnitude could be implemented. When Mary and Martha had brought Jesus the message of their brother being very ill, it was a customary request of it's day to do so ( a "Chronos" mentality to follow customs). Yet, there was another factor in this prayer request...Mary and Martha were equally aware of Jesus healing power, a "Kairos" outlook on the situation, that is...could there be a "special moment in time"where God's power would be demonstrated, in this case Lazarus being healed. Yet there was another obstacle lurking, a "Chronos" understanding of Jesus apparent dilemma...returning to their home in Bethany might put Jesus in perpetual risk of a plot to kill Him.
In verse 4, Jesus then makes a statement of definite "Kairos" origin, for His statement was one of faith that no amount of preparation or "Chronos" logic could prepare for. He said that Lazarus sickness would not end in death, but for the Glory of God and for His Son. The truth is, according to later passages in the chapter...Lazarus was indeed physically dead. Then in verse 5, Jesus remains in the area of Perea for 2 additional days. After the 2 days, Jesus then makes the announcement it was time to return to Judea...to Bethany to see Lazarus.
It was at this time the "Kairos" outlook on life had been raised to a new level, statements of pure faith that had no rationale to the "Chronos" way of thought. How would one prepare for what lies next? The disciples themselves were at a loss as to what was about to happen...it was like the whole scenario had entered a new dimension.
When Jesus said it was time to go back to Judea (the area where Lazarus was located), the "Chronos" way of thinking was spoken to Jesus by His disciples: "Wait a minute there Boss...it was just a few days ago the leaders in that area were trying to have You stoned...and now You want to return to the very same area?"
And in John 11:9 is a real key to grasping "Kairos" thought...this verse carries the very words that gives a prime directive why "special moments" in life do occur.
A Gleaning from John 11:9
Jesus replies: "Look at it this way...from what nature teaches us. Our days are divided into two 12 hour periods...12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. When we travel by day, the road is clear...we can see all around us and walk accordingly...because the sun gives us light. When we travel into the night, the surroundings are different. We can not see around us and have a greater chance to stumble or walk into a situation we weren't aware of...because the sun is not out. I am the Light...I can see clearly my mission in life here with you, while those who walk in darkness are prone to stumble or walk into situations they are not aware of. I walk in the Light...now...let's go see Lazarus."
The thing I have noticed in everyday life, there is nothing wrong in "hoping for the best" or trusting God even when all hope seems lost. The lesson I learn from believing there are those "Divine Moments" in life are: 1) I send a message to Jesus like Mary and Martha...in other words I pray to Him for help...knowing in my heart Jesus has the power to overcome any circumstance I face in life, 2) I trust all that will happen will give glory to God and manifest to to others Jesus is alive and lives in me, and 3) regardless how dark a situation seems in my life at the moment, Jesus is the Light of the world... and He lives in me.
"Kairos" train of thought allows the Eternal...to break into the Present. Judy Garland may have been on to something when she sang: " Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare of...dreams really do come true."
God can bring those dreams that seem so far away as a rainbow...into a given moment...in our daily life.
As previously mentioned, the "Chronos" mentality states each moment of our lives are equally important and as each moment passes before us...they are seemingly lost...not to be regained. As the saying goes "Time marches on"..and we must find ways to make-up for that time.
The "Kairos" train of thought is not so...it does not always measure our time by the passing of each moment of our lives. "Kairos" dictates there is a right time for everything...even in instances where time is or has seemingly passed, or there seems to be no hope of recovery for a given situation we may face in life.
Jesus demonstrated this train of thought...in the story of Lazarus.
In the Gospel of John, a rather interesting story has been recorded. It is the story of a man who actually died...and remained dead for 4 days. In "Chronos" logic, it is time to accept the outcome for the time of this man, Lazarus, had come and gone. It was perhaps a time to cherish his memories, mourn for his absence, and move on in life.
Yet...Jesus did not do this....
In chapter 11 the story begins: Lazarus lived with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the same Mary who had earlier anointed Jesus feet with an expensive perfume and then wiped his feet with her hair. These sisters had sent a message to Jesus that his dear friend Lazarus...their brother...was sick.
When Jesus received this message, He was in Perea, which is just north of the Dead Sea, a place where John the Baptizer was suppose to have baptized people in an outward display of repenting of sin in their lives.
Lazarus, along with his 2 sisters lived in Bethany near Jerusalem, about 20 miles from where Jesus was located. It was somewhat of a touchy situation in relation to Jesus and the Jerusalem area. By this time in Jerusalem the Jewish hierarchy had already put plans in place as to how one might kill Him...looking for that opportune moment when a plan of this magnitude could be implemented. When Mary and Martha had brought Jesus the message of their brother being very ill, it was a customary request of it's day to do so ( a "Chronos" mentality to follow customs). Yet, there was another factor in this prayer request...Mary and Martha were equally aware of Jesus healing power, a "Kairos" outlook on the situation, that is...could there be a "special moment in time"where God's power would be demonstrated, in this case Lazarus being healed. Yet there was another obstacle lurking, a "Chronos" understanding of Jesus apparent dilemma...returning to their home in Bethany might put Jesus in perpetual risk of a plot to kill Him.
In verse 4, Jesus then makes a statement of definite "Kairos" origin, for His statement was one of faith that no amount of preparation or "Chronos" logic could prepare for. He said that Lazarus sickness would not end in death, but for the Glory of God and for His Son. The truth is, according to later passages in the chapter...Lazarus was indeed physically dead. Then in verse 5, Jesus remains in the area of Perea for 2 additional days. After the 2 days, Jesus then makes the announcement it was time to return to Judea...to Bethany to see Lazarus.
It was at this time the "Kairos" outlook on life had been raised to a new level, statements of pure faith that had no rationale to the "Chronos" way of thought. How would one prepare for what lies next? The disciples themselves were at a loss as to what was about to happen...it was like the whole scenario had entered a new dimension.
When Jesus said it was time to go back to Judea (the area where Lazarus was located), the "Chronos" way of thinking was spoken to Jesus by His disciples: "Wait a minute there Boss...it was just a few days ago the leaders in that area were trying to have You stoned...and now You want to return to the very same area?"
And in John 11:9 is a real key to grasping "Kairos" thought...this verse carries the very words that gives a prime directive why "special moments" in life do occur.
A Gleaning from John 11:9
Jesus replies: "Look at it this way...from what nature teaches us. Our days are divided into two 12 hour periods...12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. When we travel by day, the road is clear...we can see all around us and walk accordingly...because the sun gives us light. When we travel into the night, the surroundings are different. We can not see around us and have a greater chance to stumble or walk into a situation we weren't aware of...because the sun is not out. I am the Light...I can see clearly my mission in life here with you, while those who walk in darkness are prone to stumble or walk into situations they are not aware of. I walk in the Light...now...let's go see Lazarus."
The thing I have noticed in everyday life, there is nothing wrong in "hoping for the best" or trusting God even when all hope seems lost. The lesson I learn from believing there are those "Divine Moments" in life are: 1) I send a message to Jesus like Mary and Martha...in other words I pray to Him for help...knowing in my heart Jesus has the power to overcome any circumstance I face in life, 2) I trust all that will happen will give glory to God and manifest to to others Jesus is alive and lives in me, and 3) regardless how dark a situation seems in my life at the moment, Jesus is the Light of the world... and He lives in me.
"Kairos" train of thought allows the Eternal...to break into the Present. Judy Garland may have been on to something when she sang: " Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare of...dreams really do come true."
God can bring those dreams that seem so far away as a rainbow...into a given moment...in our daily life.
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