The fifth and final Indiana Jones film, Dial of Destiny, is all about the search for a time-travel device that has the potential of changing the past. In the movie, the villain finds it but fails at altering the outcome of World War II. I was nineteen years old when I sat down to watch the first installment of this adventure series in 1981.
Most people view time in two ways: They either wish they could go back in time and change their past due to regret, or they wish time would stand still. A friend of mine posted an interesting quote on Facebook recently that read: “The Bad News: Time flies. The Good News: You are the pilot.”
But what if you can’t steer away from a situation that is progressing at a speed you also can’t control. Listen to how one of my favorite authors learned he had Parkinson’s Disease. From his February 20, 2023 blog post titled–”Dislabeled“:
“A year ago, while skiing in Colorado, I gave clear instructions for my legs to turn downhill, and they disobeyed. Instead, I slammed into a tree, breaking my boot and ski and badly bruising my left calf muscle. Strange. My brain had given orders, and the legs simply ignored them. Over the next few months, other symptoms appeared. My walking gait and posture changed. My handwriting, already small, grew even tinier and sloppier. Some nights I had mild hallucinations during sleep. I made many more mistakes while typing on a computer keyboard. My miserable golf game became even worse. I mentioned one possibility to my primary care physician, who replied, “You’re in great shape, Philip. You can’t have Parkinson’s Disease.” (Always get a second opinion.) www.philipyancey.com
Waiting to see how a person’s life turns out is not a movie that most people would buy tickets to watch. We have to face our own lives. But are we really living when we are focused on the outcome of the future, however bleak. In People of the Lie, the late author and Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck writes about what his son taught him about life and death in chapter two:
“For the moment I can do no better than to heed my son, who, with the characteristic vision of eight-year olds, explained simply, “Why, Daddy, evil is ‘live’ spelled backward.” Evil is in opposition to life. It is that which opposes the life force. It has, in short, to do with killing. Specifically, it has to do with murder-namely, unnecessary killing, killing that is not required for biological survival.”
From his book Ephesians, Paul wrote: “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Yes, the days are evil, more so than ever before. (5:15-16, NLT) And everyone has an expiration date. From Psalms, David wrote: “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” (39:4-5, NLT)
Some folks purposely navigate away from facing the spiritual world or their own spiritual life. “I’ve got plenty of time to become religious,” they say. Why don’t people worship, serve, or believe in the living God? They have too many options, choices and yes–distractions.
But the inspired Word of God is CLEAR. “Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2, NLT) What’s the hold-up?
Be encouraged by the lyrical music video “These are the Days” by Lauren Daigle. Pictures courtesy of pexels.com
