Time

Paul’s Brief Chat

Acts 20:7-12 is amazing and hilarious.

It’s obviously very important to Paul to share with the brethren at this location.  It’s so important that Paul, after having something to eat, tucks into the word he has to share.  My favourite verse is 9 which introduces us to Eutychus.  He falls into a deep sleep as Paul just goes on and on.  To be fair to young Eutychus, it is midnight.  I mean even I would start to think maybe the service has gone on for a while if I’ve had something to eat and it’s midnight and the man is still going on!

Eutychus gets into a deep sleep, falls off from three levels up and is dead.  Paul swoops down on the brother and informs everyone he’s going to be OK.  Then has something to eat and gets right back to talking on and on until daylight!  Until daylight!

Here’s what I find interesting about the episode.  Paul speaks from dinner til midnight, and then after another meal (he does love his food doesn’t he?) he keeps on going from midnight til daylight.  He does that, and he’s obviously got an audience who are willing to engage with him for that length of time.  It’s as if time is of no concern to them as they tuck into the spiritual food of life together.

Back In The Day

I remember my childhood years going to church and looking at the guy who was going to preach.  He’d set himself up at the front and start talking.  It wouldn’t take long for me to anxiously check the clock to see if he’s going to finish yet.  I recall sometimes the guy would go on for so long, even his wife would subtly hint that he was running out of time by deliberately craning her neck around to look at the clock and then give a dismissive sigh.  Funnily enough, soon after that, the preacher guy would give his 17th “… and in closing, brethren” before really bringing his marathon talk to an end.  By marathon of course, I’m talking about an hour, maybe an hour and a half.

As I got older and visited other churches, I became aware that people were even more stringent about the timing.  The poor guy who stood to talk at the people was on a strict timescale.  He had to say his piece then get the people out within 30 minutes.  Even for me I thought that was hardly any time at all. I guess, however, that had much to do with growing up and being conditioned in a church culture of marathon preachers.

It’s Not About The Preaching …

What was missing in these various church expressions, though, is something that lies at the heart of the Acts 20 episode.  There’s nothing in the text to suggest Paul was giving an expository sermon, or doing a preaching gig where his aim was to bore as many people as possible.  Indeed, just from the text we read there were things that Paul was desirous to share with the saints, and the saints were amenable to hearing the brother share for hours on end.

What is that all about?  Was it Paul’s charismatic personality?  Was it a bank holiday so the children could stay up late, and the adults didn’t have to worry about work the next day?

Or could it possibly be that the brethren together with Paul had such an insatiable appetite to share Christ and feast on the Bread of Life that time was no issue to them.  To know that they were in the presence of an apostle who was passionate about sharing Christ was enough to get the gathering eager and excited to spend quality time in fellowship, worship and devotion to what God is saying.

I am not reading people who love a good preach-fest. I am reading people who love God, love the people of God and love God’s word so much that on occasions like this they are happy to engage in the extraordinary as the ordinary just for the chance to share.

Sweet Communion Experienced

As I read that episode, I’m reminded of some of those occasions in time past where time was just not an issue at all.  Even knowing I had work the next day, sharing sweet fellowship with brother and sisters in Christ talking about His Word, sharing life together was just so sweet that I wouldn’t want to stop it.  Even when I got home late, there was something about the sweet time experienced that kept me serene and the next day not being tired, worn out or anything.  On the contrary I felt refreshed and energised to live for Jesus at work.

I recall those occasions, I remember those sweet times together and realise more and more why God would have it that way.  Truly the fullness and richness of who He is experienced as we spend meaningful time together – eating, worshipping Him, hearing from Him and sharing Him through the many varied vessels He has put in place.  Savouring that taste and sharing the sweet communion that goes beyond physical bread and wine and connects with our being in Christ in God.

Truly the concept of time begins to lose all meaning in the greater perspective of God’s presence.  When I then hear the exhortation to make the most of every opportunity because the days of evil (Ephesians 5:16), I read an encouragement to let Jesus shine through every aspect of time.  Funnily enough as we do that and live in the light of that, so time looks to bleed into glimpses of eternity, a timeless space.

It’s About Time: Not Just For Then

As I reflect on this, I am encouraged again to truly make Jesus my treasure, and treasure His expression through His Body so that I practice what it will be like when time will be no more.  As we share and hear and pass love, almost as though it’s the last we’ll see each other, so we’ll be emboldened for the challenges ahead.

We do so encouraged that just as He did in the Incarnation, in the fullness of time Jesus will come back again, and we can be with Him ever glorious.

I would say more – but maybe some other time!

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden