"5:53"

I probably shouldn't admit the following as it may give the impression of advancing age or mental impairment.

Today I was scheduled to pick up Frances at 7:00 p.m. As the time approached, I glanced at my watch on at least 3-4 occasions. Each time the digital readout reported "5:53." "Hmm, I thought to myself the first few times I noted that the laws of time had somehow been suspended, "I don't have to leave for awhile." Finally, as I looked at my watch one final time, the thought occurred to me that the numbers "5:53" were becoming strangely familiar. "Interesting," I thought. "It was 5:53 thirty minutes ago also."

I'm not as quick as most folks, but a light went on somewhere in my brain. I looked more closely at the face of the watch, discovering that a universal law had actually not been nullified. The stopwatch screen stared back at me, mockingly informing me that "5:53" was not the time, but rather the point at which I had hit the stop button for whatever purpose I had used the stopwatch previously (can't remember what that was). The time was actually 6:43. P.M., thank the Lord. I hurriedly left and picked up Frances. Yes, you can fool me once, twice, thrice, maybe even four times. But I'm sharp on that fifth take!

All this to say how much I rejoice that the Bible declares that eventually "there should be time no longer" (Revelation 10:6). I don't think that any of us realize how much our lives are controlled by the clock, and how much stress and pressure we face by the mastery of moments. Nor do we have a frame of reference for eternity and how it will feel when the complete absence of clocks in Heaven will be, well, heavenly. Thus we are given one more reason for which to give thanks for the Lord Jesus Christ, whose saving grace will ultimately deliver us from the slavery of the temporal unto the liberty of the eternal. What a salvation! What a Savior!

For a little while today, I was practicing an existence in which "there should be time no longer." I must report to you that it was very nice. Sadly, however, I can't remember much of what I did while living in that temporarily perpetual "5:53!"

"According to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:6-7)