Time Is Long; Or Short

“Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.” (Jos 11:18 AV)

Although time is a constant, the perception of it is not.  A second is a second.  A minute is sixty seconds.  However, the events that transpire in that second or minute skew our perception of the length of that second or minute.  If we are told we can lick on an ice cream cone for exactly a minute, that minute goes by rather quickly.  However, if we are waiting for the Novocain to kick in while the doctor works on a cavity, that minute seems like an eternity.  The ‘long time’ above was about six or seven years.  In retrospect, seven years is not that long of a time.  However, while fighting what seems like a never-ending battle, seven years can seem like an eternity.  Something to also remember is Joshua’s age.  He is no spring chicken here.  He is between 69 and 79 years of age.  When he undertakes the leadership of a nation as they fight their enemies for their divinely appointed inheritance, Joshua is past his prime.  This causes time to become even more distorted.  The older we get, the more it appears time has raced by.  But the older we get, the longer it takes to do things that we did rather easily in our youth.  We have to plan more time to do the things we used to do in a hurry.

Regardless of our perception of time, there is one constant. Time is limited; at least in this lifetime.  Our lives are limited.  Our opportunities are limited.  Our experiences are limited.  Our trials are limited.  There is a beginning and an end.  The Bible calls this our expected end.  Or, that which the LORD has determined to be the goal of whatever we happen to be in the midst of.  This necessarily suggests there is a beginning and an end.  If there is a beginning and an end, then the time between is certain.  What we see above is Joshua’s perspective; or the human writer’s perspective; of the seven years of battle as it applies to a 75-year-old.  To the writer, it was a long time for Joshua.  Being a long time, the takeaway is, that perception does not determine commitment.  In other words, to the writer and perhaps to Joshua, seven years seemed like a long time.  Just because it seemed like a long time did not give Joshua an exit ramp.  Endurance is the point here.  When we start a difficult task our trial, knowing it will last years or decades and not days or weeks, it seems like a very long time.  This may be so. But it is our race.  It is the one that is set before us.

Life is a marathon.  Not a sprint.  One of my childhood regrets was that when it came to sports, I didn’t stick with it.  I tried track, basketball, and baseball.  In each instance, when the practice became dull and it seemed like I maxed out on my abilities, I called it an experience and went on to something else.  Track, especially, was one that I regret.  I was a sprinter.  Yet the coach had us constantly running miles instead of sprints or relays.  I didn’t understand his methods.  It seemed as though all this accomplished was to slow my sprint speed down.  I didn’t see the point.  Regardless of the reasons for it or if it would have eventually paid off, I would have learned to endure life a bit better if I had learned it at such a young age.  Joshua lived two-thirds of his life before God put him in the place of leadership.  Two-thirds.  When the LORD finally did and gave him the battles with the kings, time slowed down immensely.  Where did those seventy years go to?  Time flew by.  Now, at his age and with the responsibility laid before him, time seemed to come to a standstill.  Joshua faithfully discharged his duties even though perception was a discouragement.  This faithfulness is sorely lacking in our churches today.  Either we are in a hurry to get where we think God wants us, or we are too tired once we get there.  Commitment is not determined by our feelings or perceptions.  It is determined by the command of God!