Tick Tock
Acts 1:4-8 And while being in their company and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak.5 For John baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with (placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.6 So when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom and restore it to Israel?7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
Human nature is confoundingly interesting, and pathetic, simultaneously. In this setting, Jesus had recently emerged from a horrific crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead. Presently, He is about to ascend to His Father to be seated on His throne. For all appearances it would seem, to any casual observer, the eleven disciples would have had enough sense to keep their mouths shut, and listen attentively to every syllable that poured from His lips. In fact the word transfixed comes to mind as what would appear to be the only adequate response to Jesus’ Presence. But what did these disciples inquire about? Time. What was of the utmost importance to Jesus? The Baptism of the Spirit. Specifically there being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Time versus being Baptized in the Spirit. Let that profound statement sink in deep. One more time: time versus being baptized in the Spirit! Guess what? Nothing’s changed. Yet, we are no different than the disciples with their preoccupation with time. In fact, instead of our being transfixed with Jesus we remain, stuck, fixed and focused on time. Man’s agenda versus God’s agenda. Self-centered versus God-centered. I have heard it said, that we are too preoccupied with the gifts of the Giver rather than the Giver, Himself. Since that is emphatically true, what are we doing with His Gift of Time? Have we become too occupied with the gift rather than the Giver? Have we learned the value of being baptized, and immersed in the Spirit?
What does it mean to be immersed in the Spirit? Ephesians 5:18 states: Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. The Greek version of this text literally states, Be, being continually filled with the Spirit. The comparison is obvious. Being filled with the Spirit is comparable to being drunk. Drunk’s aren’t concerned about time. Everything is centered around the alcohol. Everything that they are is controlled by the “spirit’s” influence. Their speech, muscle movements, thoughts, and emotions are all controlled by the alcohol which has consumed them. The analogy is clear and obvious. Those who are drunk with the Spirit are consumed by the Spirit. Things on fire tend to be consumed. Fortunately for Spirit-filled followers of Jesus we become burning bushes for those who take the time to turn aside to look and see, What is the meaning of this? Question is, Who or what is consuming you? Are you a sign and wonder to those wandering in their spiritual wasteland?
Never is defined as, at no time in the past or the future. In J.M. Barries fictional work, Peter Pan, Captain Hook is stricken with fear of the crocodile who has swallowed a clock. Whenever the crocodile is near the sound of the ticking clock grows louder and louder. Mankind is fearful of the crocodile of time that comes for all men ready to devour all in its abysmal jaws. The good news is we have been given an invitation to Never Land which begins in salvation, and its manifestation of reality exists in the Spirit-filled, spirit-yielded life. Now the question becomes are you controlled by the Croc of Time or by the boundless, expanses of the Spirit-filled life? Is the Spirit-filled, spirit-controlled life your preoccupation or are you running from time simultaneously grasping for more of it?
