Discover the Story that Connects Past, Present, and Future.
We mark time in minutes, hours, days, months, years, and epochs. But as Christian philosopher Simone Weil once said, “The future is made of the same stuff as the past.” Even though we define time in different ways, time is merely a spectrum, and we are only a definition away from history and eternity on it
Humans like to try to manipulate time. For example, since the rise of Western Civilization, we have identified epochs as BC and AD. BC means “Before Christ, and “AD” means Anno Domini, Latin for “the year of our Lord.”
However, since the 1980s, there has been a crusade to change these designations to BCE and CE. BCE stands for “Before Current Era,” and CE for “Current Era.” While this looks like an effort to erase Jesus Christ from history, academics who use these designations most often claim it is an effort at religious neutrality. Nevertheless, it has the stink of anti-Christian bigotry about it.
For followers of Jesus, these actions are like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Jesus Christ is still Lord of Time. We can see that reality in the Bible.
The Bible is a Time Capsule
The Bible is far more than a collection of moral teachings or historical records; it is a single, unified story woven together by God’s purpose for humanity. Across two testaments, the narrative unfolds with God as the author and Jesus Christ as the central figure.
From Genesis to Revelation, this story reveals how God works in human history and how he calls each of us to place Jesus at the center of our lives. Understanding this divine narrative means understanding ourselves, our purpose, and our future.
The Bible begins in a garden and ends in a city. The journey between these two points is a breathtaking saga of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.
It begins with God creating the heavens and the Earth. In doing so, he created day and night (Genesis 1:3-5) and established the human perception of time.
God then placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where they are tasked to work and care for the world (Genesis 2:15). Tragically, the entrance of sin disrupts this perfect relationship between humanity and God, leading to brokenness in creation (Genesis 3:17-19). Yet even in the earliest chapters of Genesis, the promise of restoration appears—a descendant of Eve will crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).
This promise sets the stage for the rest of Scripture. It provides the reason for our existence, our purpose during our limited time on Earth, and our eternal destiny (Ephesians 5:15-16; 1 John 2:17).
The Bible isn’t merely a story about humanity seeking God; it is about God seeking humanity, with Jesus as the bridge between time and eternity.
The New Testament fulfills these promises, with Jesus Christ as the long-awaited Messiah. As John writes, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In Jesus, God’s plan reaches its climax, offering salvation to all people.
Christ: The Beginning and the End
Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension are at the heart of the biblical narrative. He is not simply one figure among many but the cornerstone of God’s plan to redeem and restore creation. His coming fulfills Old Testament prophecies and reveals the depth of God’s love and faithfulness.
Redemption Through the Cross
Jesus himself taught that the Old Testament pointed to him. After his resurrection, he explained to two disciples on the road to Emmaus how the Scriptures foretold his coming (Luke 24:27).
The Old Testament’s sacrifices, laws, and promises find their ultimate meaning in him. Jesus is the “Lamb of God” who takes away the world’s sin (John 1:29), fulfilling the sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus.
Humanity has no reason to experience time except to be part of God’s redemptive story. God wants an eternal relationship with you and me, but we must pass through time to reach eternity.
The cross is at the center of time. Jesus’s death on the cross is the pivotal moment in human history. Here, sin’s curse is broken, and humanity is reconciled to God. Paul explains, “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
His act of selfless love transcends time and extends the invitation of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles, breaking down barriers of ethnicity, culture, and class (Ephesians 2:14-16).
Victory in the Resurrection and Ascension
The resurrection is not just an epilogue to Jesus’s ministry but its crowning achievement. His resurrection broke the time barrier for us all.
The cross and resurrection are not just historical events; they are the hinge upon which the story of humanity turns, offering hope for today and new life that extends to eternity to all who believe.
By rising from the dead, Jesus defeated sin, death, and the powers of darkness (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). His ascension assures believers of his timeless work as our intercessor and the promise of his return.
The End of Time and Its Implications for Today
The Bible’s conclusion in Revelation mirrors its beginning in Genesis, but with a dramatic twist. What went wrong in the Garden of Eden is made right in the New Jerusalem.
The last chapters of Revelation depict a world where God dwells with his people, free from sin, suffering, and death (Revelation 21:3-4). This vision gives hope and shapes how we live today.
The New Creation and Redemption of All Things
In Revelation, God promises to make all things new, not just humanity but creation itself (Revelation 21:5). This echoes the promise of Isaiah, who foretold a new heaven and Earth (Isaiah 65:17). The restoration is comprehensive, addressing every aspect of the brokenness caused by sin.
When this happens, the meaning of time is reset. We enter the Kingdom of God, which is a timeless era. This timeless quality is a hard thing to imagine for a race of clock-watchers like us, but time will take on a new meaning that we can only describe with the word “eternity.”
Living with Jesus at the Center
Scripture calls believers to live faithfully as we await this ultimate restoration and the restructuring of time. This means aligning our lives with God’s purposes, loving our neighbors, and sharing the good news of Jesus. The parables of Jesus often emphasize readiness and stewardship, urging us to be faithful until his return (Matthew 25:14-30).
To live with Jesus at the center is to align with the universe’s ultimate purpose—to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
The reality of Jesus as the center of time and human history demands a response. Just as history revolves around him, so should our individual lives. This means prioritizing our relationship with him, allowing his teachings to guide our decisions, and seeking his Kingdom above all else (Matthew 6:33).
Is the Story Shaping Your Use of Time?
The Bible is not simply a story to read but a story to live by. Its grand narrative, with Jesus at the center, shows us who God is and who we are meant to be. The story begins in a garden and ends in a city. We must pass through this fog we call time, but our ultimate destination is the place where renewed people dwell.
To place Jesus at the center of our lives is to enter this story, becoming participants in God’s work of redemption and restoration. By doing so, we align ourselves with the Creator’s purpose, finding meaning, hope, and joy in every chapter of our lives.
During our time on Earth, we are called to:
- Immerse Ourselves in the Word. Read the Bible regularly, paying attention to how each part points to Jesus. Start with the Gospel of Mark to see his life and teachings firsthand.
- Commit to Prayer and Worship. Invest time daily in prayer, asking God to reveal his purposes and align your heart with his. Worship regularly with a community of believers.
- Live Our Faith. Serve others in love, actively share the good news of Jesus, and reflect his character in your relationships and decisions.
Like philosophers have said, the problem is not that time is short but that we waste so much of it. As Christians, we must make the best use of the earthly time God has given us.
Sources cited: Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV).
