I have a riddle for you.
- It’s free, but it’s priceless.
- You can’t own it, but you can use it.
- You can’t keep it but you can waste it.
- Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.
- In one person’s hands it brings hope and in another person’s hands it brings pain.
- It can crawl or it can fly, but it has no hands, legs or wings.
Think you know the answer? It’s Time! Let’s take a look at today’s passage found in Ephesians 5:16-17 (NLT):
Today we begin a new series called Kairos Living In A Chronos World. The 1 thing you need to remember from today’s message is a question: What Are You More Interested In–Counting Your Days, Or Making Your Days Count? Let this question roam freely in your mind this week. In fact, I will beg you NOT to answer this question until you have spent a lot of time thinking about it.
Have you ever slowed down enough to do serious reflection on time? When it comes to “time”—what thoughts do you have? What effect does that word “time” have on your emotions? Are you overwhelmed? Frustrated? Fulfilled? Stressed? Fearful? Anxious? Happy? Joyful? Depressed? Discouraged? How do your emotions respond to “time”?
Think about how often we use that word “time”: What time is it? What time is the next doctor’s appointment? I can make it on time. There’s not enough time in a day to get everything done. What time is practice? What time does the movie start? It’s time to move on. It’s time to give up. And, my favorite, TIME OUT!
Our word “time” covers a variety of settings, each with its own unique “ambiance”. Verse 16 says, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Some of you may be more familiar with the KJV: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” While our language has only 1 word for “time”, the classical Greek has 2 words—words that have different meanings:
Chronos and Kairos. Both words are accurately translated as “time”—but they are diametrically opposite in meaning. So, let’s spend the first Sunday in this series looking and exploring at those 2 words. Bonus information, the word in this text is Kairos:
1. Chronos
Here is definition for Chronos: Chronos is a duration that can be measured. It has a certain set of values. Seconds, minutes, days, weeks, month, years, decades, centuries, millenniums, is how we measure Chronos. Chronos Is Quantitative Time. A second here has the same quantity as a second at the Beach or in the Mountains. It just seems longer here. The duration of a second in the U.S.A. is the same duration in every other country.
Chronos Time is the ticking of the clock. Chronos is where we get our word chronological. To keep up with Chronos we wear these things on our wrists called a watch. Do you know why it’s called a watch? It’s so we can watch Chronos go by.
Chronos Time Is Found In Our Agendas, Calendars And Bulletin Announcements. Chronos gives identifying labels to those measured durations. The labels are not just the units of measurement, but about the power that Chronos Time has to drain and debilitate those held captive by Chronos Time. Chronos is driven by very human-centered sets of values.
Each day contains 86,400 seconds of time—which represent 1,440 minutes—which equal twenty-four hours each day. It never fluctuates or varies. And truth is we live in a Chronos World. You have appointments, places to go, bills to pay, TV shows to watch, church to attend, practices, games and recitals to attend. And all of this happens in that measured duration of Chronos. Now let’s look at that other word:
Kairos
Kairos cannot be measured by the ticking of a clock, but by the beating of the heart. Here is the definition for Kairos: Kairos is when God steps into time and space and does something incredible. Kairos are the moments that are Right, Ripe and Rich with meaning. Think about each of these:
Kairos are the moments that are RIGHT. They fit into the rhythms of life as The Creator intends. Debbie and Sandy love to work jigsaw puzzles. And there’s the truth about jigsaw puzzles: Each piece will only fit where it is made for. Kairos never contradicts God’s Design and Purposes—It fits perfectly.
Kairos are the moments that are RIPE. They are moments designed and prepared by God for His Image Bearers. Have you ever read something or had someone call you and it was words that you were needing in that moment? This is what Ripe means.
Ripe means it is the perfect moment. The Time was Ripe when He called Abraham. Ripe when He called Moses. Ripe when He anointed David to be King. Ripe when Jesus was born in that Manger. Ripe when He died on that Cross. And Ripe when He conquered death!
Kairos are the moments that are RICH with meaning. These are the Epiphany Moments, when the Light Bulb comes on and clarity happens for us. Epiphany Moments—Discovery Moments that define and redefine us—that shape and reshape us—that form and transform us—only happen in Kairos Time.
Kairos are the moments provided by God to know Him more deeply. Kairos is about seizing the opportunity God provides in that moment. Chronos drains life and hope out of us but Kairos enriches our lives with hope, love and grace.
Understanding these differences, what you need to decide is this: Will You Live ON Chronos Time Or IN Kairos Time? Where Chronos Is Quantitative Time, Kairos Is Qualitative Time. Chronos Time measures seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and years. Kairos Time reveals and expresses quality moments that first changes us, and then changes our surroundings. It is easy to think that our time is the most important time. It is easy to be controlled and consumed by Chronos Time. But What Are You More Interested In–Counting Your Days, Or Making Your Days Count?
Every one of you will face multiple defining moments in your lifetime. Defining Moments Are The Moments That Will Shape And Determine Your Character, Your Attitude, Your Altitude And Your Future.
It changes your future course by changing how you see your life. Defining Moments happen in both Chronos Time and Kairos Time. But Defining Moments that will transform your life into that life marked by holiness are never found in the Chronos Time of schedules and calendars, but only in Kairos Time of following Jesus. The reason why your life will remain empty and dead in Chronos Time is that Kairos can’t be planned, and it certainly can’t be forced.
Kairos Time does not wait for you to fit it into your schedule. It simply happens, and if you miss one—it’s gone and won’t come back. This doesn’t mean that there will be no more Kairos Moments. More Kairos moments will indeed come, but they are new and different ones. Kairos Moments happen one at a time. Unlike network TV there will not be any reruns of what you missed. This is what makes them priceless.
The “Kairos” Opportunities we face in 2019 speak into what is God calling this church to be! And with this in mind, it’s important to ask—are we a community of people who simply gather each Sunday with good memories to celebrate—or
Are We A Community Of People Who Are Willing To Listen To The Stirring Of The Spirit, Who Are Ready To Explore New Ideas And Who Are Prepared To Embrace Where Change Needs To Happen And To Be The Church In New, Creative And Even Uncomfortable Ways?
The decision you make today about time—is a decision only you can make. Your Next Steps will be your answer to this question.
“Where Do I Need To Change So That I Will Experience More Kairos Time And Less Chronos Time And Am I Willing To Do It?”
The answer is as unique as you are. Perhaps it’s spending more time in the Bible. Maybe it’s having that dedicated time to pray. Maybe even change HOW you pray. Maybe it’s getting to know your neighbor better. Maybe it’s in stopping your voice of fear about our future. Will you live BY Chronos Time, or will you live IN Kairos Time?
As we step into this moment of Holy Communion—it can be for you a Chronos Moment—where you step in and do something.
Or—it can be for you a Kairos Moment where God steps in and He does something. It all depends on that 1 Thing You Need To Remember:
Are You More Interested In Counting Your Days, Or Making Your Days Count?
When Jesus walked this earth as one of us, He was more interested in making His days count. And we see it here on This Table.
Kingdom Pastor 
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