CHAPTER 5 HOW DOES GOD S TIME RELATE TO OUR TIME?

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 5 HOW DOES GOD S TIME RELATE TO OUR TIME?

2 Read Psalm 90: 1-17 What is Dme? Time is a measure in which events can be ordered from the past through the present into the future, and also the measure of dura7ons of events and the intervals between them. Time is o9en referred to as the fourth dimension, along with the three spa7al dimensions.

3 Two dis7nct viewpoints on 7me divide many prominent philosophers. One view is that 7me is part of the fundamental structure of the universe, a dimension in which events occur in sequence. Sir Isaac Newton subscribed to this realist view. An opposing view is that 7me does not refer to any kind of actually exis7ng dimension that events and objects "move through", nor to any en7ty that "flows", but that it is instead an intellectual that enables humans to sequence and compare events. Which view do you prefer?

4 God deals with 7me in different way. Not limited by sunrises and sunsets, God exists in eternity, working in history only because that is all we humans can grasp. Does God know the future and if so, then how do we have free will?

5 What does eternity mean? infinite or unending 7me What s the difference between eternal and everlasdng? Eternal has no beginning and no end while everlas7ng has a beginning.

6 Use your concordance to see how many the word everlasdng appears in the Gospels. If the word eternal is used referring to our lives, then does that mean we existed before our physical birth?

7 Read MaVhew 19:29 How do you feel about this being a way to obtain eternal life? Read Psalm 90:12 What does this mean to you?

8 The universe extends billions and billions of miles. When we view stars from a distance, we get a sense of awe.

9 With this view, we begin to see ourselves as God s crea7ons and not as gods ourselves. Instead of trying to control our world and our 7me,, we begin to live graciously in the 7me that God has given us. Our physical life spans must years, but our spiritual life con7nues for eternity. Does this thought give you comfort?

10 Hurry up, you ll be late! We some7mes seem to be in a constant state of rushing from one ac7vity to another. Do you take some quiet Dme each day for prayer and/or Bible study?

11 Have you no7ced that many things are reduced to small 7me bites. We have twiser which limits us to 140 characters. We have 15 second ads to watch a video or read and ar7cle. What do you think about these short sound bites?

12 Use your concordance to find how many Dmes the word hour is mendoned in the OT. Use your concordance to find how many Dmes the word hour is mendoned in the NT. Use your concordance to find how many Dmes the word minute or second is used in the Bible. Day is the standard unit of 7me in the Bible.

13 We tend to control our lives with small parcels of 7me. We become slaves to the clock. How much of your day is scheduled? Do you hate to feel as if you are wasdng Dme?

14 This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it. It is important to let God s work be manifest in us each and every day. If we were to 7the our 7me each day to do God s work, we would spend 2 hours and 24 minutes devoted to Him and His kingdom. If we knock off 8 hours for sleep, then it would be 1 hour and 36 minutes, How hard is it to find about 90 minutes to devote to God stuff each day?