In ancient times, people only had two ways of determining time. They knew the sun came up every day and set every night, and they knew the moon cycled through its phases every thirty days. Ancient astronomers—imagine how clear and bright the skies appeared before smog and electric lights—noticed how the stars moved across the sky and returned to their original positions every 365 days. Likewise, farmers learned about the seasons for planting and harvesting.

Some of the first attempts to create an annual calendar appeared in Abraham’s native city of Ur. We know that from surviving clay tablets.

In the Bible, Almighty God gave His children a calendar that included one day in seven as the Sabbath for rest and worship. Various annual holy days punctuated the lives of the Jewish people as they observed Passover, the harvest festivals, and the Day of Atonement.

Eventually people began using paper calendars to organize and manage their lives. One of the first examples of modern calendar usage was—drum roll—George Washington. He used a printed almanac that told him when the sun would rise and set each day, but he added his own blank pages. In these, he wrote down his appointments, his visitors, the places he visited, and the people he entertained. He also recorded his income and expenses.

By the mid-1800s in America, many businessmen were using planning calendars to track their meetings and appointments. The Christian retail giant in Philadelphia, John Wanamaker, began giving out free planners, which included space for personal notes, inspiring quotes, and lists of annual events occurring around the world. The day of the modern calendar had dawned.

Many people still use paper calendars and notebook planners. Others have adopted digital tools for time management. Some of us use both.

Regardless of how you keep track of the days of your life—and the hours of your days—it’s vital to bear one thing in mind. God already has every day planned out for you, for me, and for our world. He knew the day of your birth, and He knows the day of your welcome into heaven. Time passes at the same speed, the same rate, every day. We are given a certain amount of time, and once a moment is gone it never returns.

Almighty God had a calendar for His Son. Jesus was born at a pre-appointed moment in history, in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4). He was conscious of His hours, which you can track by reading through the book of John. He told His mother, “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). In John 7:30, His enemies sought to arrest Him but could not because “His hour had not yet come.” Then on the eve of His crucifixion, He prayed, “Father, the hour has come” (John 17:1).

In the same way, there’s a specific day and hour ahead—how far ahead, I don’t know—for His return to earth. It’s a tangible date. God knows the very day and hour. It may be March 21, 2022? Or December 1, 2080? No one but God knows the date and the hour.

It’s a moment “the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7, NIV).

In light of this, none of us should waste a single moment, should we? Yes, we need relaxation and leisure. We need time for rest. But we should never waste time, not a day, not a moment. The Bible says, “Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don’t be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of God” (Ephesians 5:15-16, PHILLIPS).

Colossians 4:5 says, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”

Life is remarkably brief, and that’s not bad. God wants us to anticipate serving Him eternally in the new heavens and new earth without the dangers and stresses of this sinful world. But we’re assigned here to earth for a few years to fulfill His will and do His bidding. Our time here flies, and it can’t be stopped. So it’s important to redeem the time we have and use it wisely.

In this edition of Turning Points, I want to encourage you to embrace God’s time for you in this season of your life. Make every moment count. Number your days and live with wisdom. In the following articles, I’ll show you how to rejoice in the seasons of life, celebrate life’s special moments, and make the most of this prophetic age.

Let’s redeem the time because the days are evil.

Let’s use our time wisely because the Lord is good!