The argument of time has been debated throughout the course of history. Some argue that the world began one billion years ago, while others believe that it was born into existence by a supernatural power roughly six thousand years ago. Time defines who we are. Throughout the course of history it has regulated, dictated, and determined everything from the smallest events, to the largest catastrophes. We rely on time to tell us what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. However, time isn’t just the hours in a day or the sunrises in a week. Time can be determined by where we are, what we are, and who we are.

We allow ourselves to be limited by the belief that everything is dependent on time. We see this idea in full motion by allowing those around us to affect and influence the decisions that we make. If time were everything, than feelings would be regulated to moments and emotions would be contained within memories. But this is not the case, this is proven in our ability to love someone years after they have left our life. Time does not control how we feel, it only controls our outlook on those feelings.

Time is a brutal judge, and usually  forgiveness from time can only be found through several moments of pain and regret. If we allow our lives to be ruled and judged by time, then we will spend every moment regretting the past, disappointed in the present, and stressed about the future. Each one of us has a unique relationship with God, and that relationship is not one that is regulated by time. God’s presence in us is not regulated by where we are, what we are doing, or what is going on around us. Our intimacy with God is separate from time because of the price that was paid for our sin so many years ago. Through the fulfillment of the law and Christ’s sacrifice to absolve our debt, he shattered time.

If we see time as a feeling, an emotion, as something that is specifically and independently related to who we are, then we put ourselves in a position where we determine what we can do, and are no longer controlled by a belief that time is in complete control.We serve a God who’s mercy is not dependent on time nor does it have a list of criteria that must be met. All we have to do is acknowledge that Christ died for our sins and invite him into our heart, a pretty simple price to pay for eternity. Even though our world revolves around time, we don’t have to let our lives be defined by minutes, hours, days, and years. Time cannot determine our punishment because through the blood of Christ time was shattered and our guilt covered. As my relationship with God has grown and changed I have started to accept this idea that forgiveness for my sins is not related to time whatsoever.

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Gods grace is not on a clock. No matter where we are at in our relationship with him, his mercy acts outside of the realm of time. It is through that belief that we acknowledge the fact that, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s time acts significantly different than time that we are used to, it conveys mercy, love, and forgiveness and is not reliant on anything in our control except for one decision…the decision that we will accept and acknowledge God’s time, and with that receive his mercy, love, and forgiveness.