Measuring Time: Going Left on the Number Line

This reading is based on Ecclesiastes 3 that is read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of SDAs.

"To everything there is a season; a time for every purpose under heaven." Ecc. 3: 1

The number line is a mathematical tool that is used to especially help children learn basic arithmetic (addition and subtraction). Significantly, there are positive and negative numbers on a number line, with zero being the point of origin. When you're adding on the number line you go right; when subtracting, left. When you start at zero and go right, you are accumulating a positive value; when you go left however, you're are increasing the negative value.

Imagine that life is like living on a number line. And because we're alive WE HAVE TO MOVE; we either go right, or we go left. On the number line zero represents the point at which we decide how much time we will spend on an activity. If we decide to engage then we'll move right and begin to count the time (seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years). We can otherwise decide not to engage - in which case, we move left. Understand this, when we go right (positively engage in an action) we are building its legacy and increase the chances of other persons becoming similarly engaged. When we go left, we do the opposite.

                   

May I suggest that notwithstanding the seeming latitude given in the passage above, there are some things that we should never do; but should instead go left. The Apostle John says, "My little children, these things write I unto you that you SIN NOT..." 1 John 2: 1. Later on in this book Solomon will encourage us to remember our Creator in our youth, and that our duty is to fear Him and keep His commandment. And then there are some things that are not necessarily sinful, but may cause us undue hurt and inconvenience (like some bad relationship choices, or making the wrong career choice). We should avoid those as well. Paul says in Romans 15: 4, "For whatsoever things were written in times past, were written for our learning...." There are some things we're expected to learn - not from our own indulgence, but by simply learning from another's experience. That's wisdom!

Father in Heaven, please grant each of us the wisdom to know when to go right, and when to go left. Our hope and desire is that all that we do will build the legacy of holiness on this earth we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

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