“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1
Welcome back, family!
I’m so glad you’ve joined me today. This space is all about growing together in God’s Word and discovering how His truth transforms every part of our lives.
In our earlier article, “Understanding God’s Timing: The Meaning of Times and Seasons in Your Life” we explored how God designed times and seasons to shape our journey. These periods are meant not to confine us but to refine us. We learned that every season carries divine purpose and that God’s timing is always perfect.
Today, we take that truth one step deeper.
So often, we treat time as a limiting denominator. We see it as something that runs out. It defines how much we can do or how far we can go. But in God’s Kingdom, time is not meant to reduce us—it’s meant to reveal Him.
Time, when surrendered to God, becomes a factor in His equation of purpose. It’s not about how long something takes, but what God accomplishes in the process. The world may measure time in deadlines and duration, but God measures it in development and destiny.
Today, I am excited to share Part 2 in this series: “Time as a Factor, not a Denominator.” In this post, we’ll explore how time functions in God’s hands—not as a countdown, but as a creative tool. We’ll look at how faith transforms our understanding of waiting. We’ll also examine how recognizing time as a divine factor assists us in living with peace. It provides purpose and patience in every season of life.
Scripture references:
So, take a deep breath. Open your heart. Let’s discover how time—when placed in God’s hands—multiplies purpose instead of dividing it.
Acts 1:6–7 (NKJV)
“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’
And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.’”
Introduction
Life is measured in moments, yet not all moments are the same. Scripture reminds us that “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Time is not just a ticking clock; it is a divine framework within which God unfolds His purposes. Each season of life—whether of waiting, growth, testing, or fulfilment—carries meaning when seen through the lens of eternity.
What is Time? A Biblical Perspective
What is time? How do we define it through the lens of God’s Word? What does Scripture really say about time, seasons, and their meaning in our walk with Him? Time entered the world after the fall. It became part of the framework of our existence in a world touched by sin. In a sense, time came into the world to aid in the elevation and redemption of our fallen nature. It carries the weight of our human condition yet also serves as the stage upon which God’s redemptive work unfolds.
Did Man Ever Live Forever Before the Fall?
The question is, “Did Man Ever Live Forever Before the Fall?”
Before the fall, man was created not to die. In the Garden of Eden, death did not exist for humanity. Adam and Eve were formed in the image of God — pure, sinless, and made for eternal fellowship with their Creator. Genesis 2:7 tells us, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
This “breath of life” was more than just physical existence. It was the divine life of God — eternal, pure, and incorruptible. As long as man remained in obedience and communion with God, he lived under the covering of eternal life.
In Eden, God placed the Tree of Life in the centre of the garden (Genesis 2:9). That tree represented continuous access to divine life — the unbroken flow of God’s presence and immortality. Adam and Eve had the potential to live forever. They needed to remain in right relationship with God and partaking of that life continually.
But when sin entered through disobedience, death entered too. Genesis 2:17 says, “For when you eat from it you will certainly die.” This death was first spiritual — separation from God — and later physical. After the fall, God drove them out of the Garden “He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” (Genesis 3:22–24).
So, to answer the question plainly:
Before the fall, man was not yet immortal by nature. However, he had access to immortality through communion with God. Eternal life was available through obedience and relationship. Death only began when sin broke that connection. The good news is that in Christ, the second Adam, that access has been restored (John 11:25).
Time: The Divine Framework of Redemption:
Time is the framework of this world. Within it, all questions are answered, and all purposes are revealed. God brought forth time as a persuasion of His grace. It is a divine instrument through which He draws us toward Himself. Time leads us toward His throne; it is the instrument by which He gathers us into Christ.
Time, hence, is not random—it is a function of Christ. When Christ entered the world, He stepped into time to bring salvation. Time came with Christ, and time is Christ, for He reveals Himself within it. His purposes are bound to time, and the fulfilment of His mission unfolds through it. He unfolds the eternal within the temporal. Time did not exist apart from the Word of God. It came into being with the Word. Through the Word, all things were made.
Christ and the Fullness of Time:
Everything about the mission of Christ is tied to time:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…” – Galatians 4:4
Thus, time did not come by itself but together with the Word of God—Christ Himself. Time is not beyond us but beneath us, a servant to God’s plan and a vessel for human destiny. Time has limits, and within those limits, our divine purposes are birthed and revealed. We live within time, yet time is subordinate to us because we are eternal beings in Christ. Time lives alongside us. Yet, its purpose differs from ours. It serves as the unfolding process of God’s will for our lives.
Christ came in the fullness of time, but His process and purpose define time itself. We live in time, but our purpose unfolds within it. Time, hence, is not our master—it is God’s servant, designed to carry His Word and reveal His plan for humanity.
In essence, time is the vessel of God’s Word, and Christ is the fulfilment of time.
Understanding Time in the Light of God’s Word
Time, in the Scripture of the Lord, gives meaning and definition to His Word. His Word unfolds within time, and time itself exists with us and within our world. Time was created for humanity and is embedded within the fabric of creation (Genesis 1:14). It serves as the stage upon which God’s redemptive story unfolds (Matthew 21:1-11; Acts 17:26–27). We live within time, and time envelops us into our destiny. Without time, we would drift only in space, and without it, our lives could not be measured.
“And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,” (Genesis 1:14)
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:26-27)
Time as a Servant, not a Master:
Time is essential for our survival in this world. Yet Scripture reminds us that while time is necessary for our existence, it is not ultimate but subordinate of us. It is a created instrument designed to serve God’s will and to order our lives toward His destiny for us. Time is a servant, not a master. God created time to order our days. It guides us to fulfill His will. As stated in Galatians 4:4, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son.”
Thus, time itself testifies to God’s sovereignty. It is the stage on which His redemptive purposes unfold. One day, it will give way to eternity, where “time shall be no more” (Revelation 10:6). Until then, we walk within time. We do not walk as those ruled by it. Instead, we see it as God’s instrument to bring us into His eternal glory.
We need time to walk into our destiny. We also need time to fulfil the promises we have made to God (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Galatians 6:9). We need time to tell time. Time itself gives meaning to our journey. It helps us understand purpose, grow in faith, and walk in obedience (2 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 12:1). Destiny is a factor of time, and time, in turn, is a factor of life. Without time, life—as we know it—would not exist. Our physical bodies need time to live; to grow, to age, and to serve. Without time, our existence would dissolve into nothingness, even questionable (Genesis 2:7; James 4:14).
This is why God has placed us within time—to live out His purposes until the end of time. We are called to reveal who we are in Him while we stay within the bounds of time. Our very existence depends upon time. It is no accident that humanity was placed in a part of the universe governed by time. Within time, God’s eternal purposes are revealed. It is within time that we respond to His call (Acts 17:26–28; Romans 8:28–30).
Time is the framework through which the world operates. We do not live in this world merely because we exist; we live because God Himself dwells within us. Thus, all that we do must be according to His will, not our own. Our life and existence are sustained in His presence, for God is God, and He lives in us. Yet our existence is not for ourselves but for His glory (Acts 17:28).
As His creation, our destiny is in His hands. He directs it according to His sovereign purpose (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 9:21). This is why Christ lives in us, and we in Him. Our lives are to be aligned with the proportion and purpose of His divine will (Galatians 2:20; John 15:4). The will of the Lord is in us. The command of the Lord is clear. We are to live according to His divine purpose. In doing so, time becomes the stage upon which His plans unfold in our lives. So, time itself will tell when the Lord God sustains us through the days ahead.
Time Will Tell: Christ Living Through Us:
Time will tell when the Lord God lives His life through us. In the days ahead, it is time — governed by God’s hand — that will reveal how He chooses to live His life through us. The Christian life is not just about believing in Christ; it’s about allowing Him to live His life through us. In Galatians 2:20, Paul declares, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
This verse captures the heart of what it means to follow Jesus. When Paul says he has been crucified with Christ, he means that his old life is gone. His self-centred desires, ambitions, and identity have been put to death. What remains is not the improved version of the old Paul, but a new life entirely—Christ’s life, expressed through him.
When we give our hearts to Jesus, something remarkable happens. Our lives are joined with His, and we become vessels through which His presence, His love, and His purpose can flow. The Lord doesn’t just want to help us live better; He wants to live through us. His Spirit begins to shape our thoughts, our words, and our actions. We start to see the world differently—not from the lens of self, but through the eyes of Christ.
But this transformation doesn’t happen all at once. It unfolds over time. Time becomes the process through which Christ’s life is formed in us. The phrase, “time will tell when the Lord God lives His life through us,” reminds us of something important. It shows that the evidence of Christ’s life within will reveal itself. This happens as we walk with Him day by day. In moments of testing, His peace sustains us. In seasons of waiting, His patience grows in us. In times of joy, His love overflows from us.
Time is not our enemy; it is the stage where Christ’s life unfolds through ours. In the end, time will tell—because the more we surrender, the more His life becomes visible in everything we do. The fullness of the world belongs to Him. Time shows that our place in this world is to walk in Him. Indeed, time is the measure by which we live out our calling in this world. Time is not just a backdrop of existence. It is a divine factor through which God reveals His will in the world. Time is a factor of us in this world.
Time is the regulator of life. It orders our days and marks our years, shaping the course of our earthly existence. Yet when the Son of God returns, life will no longer be bound by time. We will live ceaselessly, forever in His presence (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
When Mary was in Bethlehem, Scripture tells us, “The time came for her to give birth.” (Luke 2:6–12). At that moment, the divine purpose met human history. Heaven entered time, and eternity took on flesh.
And one day, as Revelation declares, time will once again meet eternity. This will happen when Christ returns and ushers in “a new heaven and a new earth.” On that day, everything will change for His glory, and His favour will rest upon all creation.
Then the prayer we have whispered through generations will be fulfilled. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Until that day, let us live wisely within time. We must trust the One who stands beyond it. In His hands, time finds its true meaning and purpose.
Eternity Awaits: When Time Gives Way:
Time reveals who we are. However, it can’t define what we are. That belongs to destiny, which is held in the hands of the Lord. As the psalmist declares, “My times are in Your hand” (Psalm 31:15). We need time to exist in this present world. In the world to come, there will be a “new heaven and the new earth.” This is where “the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:1–3). In that place, time will no longer be necessary. The Lord Himself will be with us.
For the Lord is with us—Immanuel (Matthew 1:23).
Time, then, sets us apart from the Lord. He is eternal and unbound. We, however, are creatures of time. “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). It reminds us of our limits, while God is limitless. Still, time shapes our growth. It develops our being, and carries us forward until the day when it gives way to eternity. As we grow, time develops with us, shaping our experience and helping us understand the value of our days. But beyond time lies eternity, where “death shall be no more… for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). —and where God’s presence will be our only measure.
Factor vs. Denominator: The Spiritual Symbolism of Time
This is the revelation the Holy Spirit gave me:
“Time is a factor, not a denominator. It can’t exist on its own but becomes part of us.”
- “Time is a factor and not a denominator”:
Factor (Spiritually Symbolic):
In mathematics, a factor contributes to an outcome but does not define the whole. Spiritually, time functions in the same way. Time influences our lives, but it is not the source of our identity or destiny.
It shapes the process of life, but it never determines the purpose of life.
God has given us time as a tool—a vessel through which His purposes unfold. We measure days and seasons. However, the meaning of those moments does not come from the ticking of a clock. It comes from the eternal truth embedded in them.
Denominator (Spiritually Symbolic):
In contrast, the denominator in a fraction determines size, division, and proportion. If time were our denominator, our value and destiny would be reduced to calculations of minutes, days, and years. Our worth would be defined by how much time we had, or how much we lacked.
But the Word of God teaches something greater. Time does not define our value, nor does it measure our eternal identity. We are not divided by time. We are carried through it.
Time contributes to the journey of every believer, but it has no authority to define who we are. We are not divided or measured by time—we are guided through it. Our identity is secured in Christ, who is Himself eternal.
We do not belong to the clock or to the calendar. We belong to the eternal God who holds time in His hands.
As Scripture declares:
“A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”— Psalm 90:4
God is beyond time; and as His children, we are shaped by eternity more than chronology.
- “Time can’t exist on its own—It becomes part of us”:
Time can’t exist in isolation. It has meaning only about people, purpose, and movement. Without life, time is meaningless. It becomes significant only when lived out in the presence of God.
Time becomes part of our becoming. It is woven into our experiences, our growth, our waiting, and our transformation.
Consider the image of a seed. A seed requires time to grow, to take root, and to bear fruit. Yet the seed is not defined by time. It is defined by the DNA placed within it by its Creator. Time carries the process forward, but the identity of the seed comes from its design.
So, it is with us. We are not defined by time, but by the eternal imprint of God upon our lives.
As Ecclesiastes reminds us:
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
Seasons of Life: Change and Purpose:
Time reminds us that life has a beginning and an end.
Seasons remind us that change is part of God’s design.
Just as the earth moves through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, our lives move through spiritual seasons. These are times of sowing, growth, harvest, and rest.
Closing Reflection: Walking Boldly in God’s Timing
Time is not the master of your life. It is the servant of God’s will. It may carry the rhythm of your journey, but it can’t dictate the meaning of your existence. Only the eternal God defines who you are.
Seasons come and go, but the God who governs them remains unchanging. When we see time as a factor, and not a denominator, we recognize that it contributes to our journey. However, it does not define our identity. In Christ, we are eternal beings learning to walk faithfully within the rhythm of time while being anchored in eternity.
Thus, walk boldly in the days entrusted to you, knowing that time is not your denominator. It is only a factor in the great equation of God’s eternal purpose.
Call to Action
Thanks for joining me on this journey through Times and Seasons. Let’s keep seeking God’s wisdom together, learning to walk faithfully in His timing, and living with eternity in view.
I’d love to hear from you!
Share in the comments below what stood out to you from this post. Tell us how you’ve experienced God’s timing in your own life.
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If this message encouraged you, please subscribe, or share it with a friend. You can also follow along for the next post in our Times and Seasons series. We’ll dive deeper into the signs of the times, the end of time, and what Scripture reveals about discerning the season you are in. Learn how to align your steps with God’s eternal will.
Let’s grow together in Christ—one season at a time.
Written by Eunice Forson
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If you missed any of the earlier posts in this series, here’s a quick recap:
Over the past couple of weeks in our “Times and Seasons” blog series, we’ve discussed…
Introduction to the Series – Times and Seasons
Blog Post #1 – Understanding God’s Timing: The Meaning of Times and Seasons in Your Life,
The seed 