No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:3-5)
Recently, I came across a review of a book called “4,000 Weeks: Time Management For Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman. 4,000 weeks is the average human lifespan.
I haven’t read the book, but it sounds interesting. Its premise relates to two things. In the author’s words: “The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short.”
This is coupled with a “Few things feel more basic to my experience of adulthood than the vague sense that I’m falling behind and need to do more.” FOMO, in modern parlance. FOMO and that most American of impulses – the drive for improved productivity.
I just bought a new set of irons. The ones I had were ten years old, and I recently lost my 7-iron. I left it on the course somewhere, and it hasn’t surfaced. I’ve used its loss as an excuse to buy a new iron set. I don’t think it was stolen.
I think some duffer who plays once or twice a year found it, put it in his bag, intended to turn it in at the pro shop, and forgot about it. He’ll figure it out next year when he plays again.
I ordered the irons at one of those places where some earnest young fellow who speaks fluent golf has you hit a few balls at a computerized screen, churning out all manner of data. The data then identifies the shaft and clubhead that best matches your abilities. One can only hope.
The earnest young fellow tells me the clubs should arrive in two weeks. I hate to admit it but I’m rather tingly with anticipation. Could a higher rate of greens in regulation be just around the corner?
This, of course, is me proving Burkeman’s point. It’s me sharing his “vague sense” that he needs to do more. Recognizing that I’ve only got 4,000 weeks (well, quite a few less, at last count) to play with, new irons can’t help but augment my productivity on the golf course, right?
However, the last part of Revelation 22:5 (“… they will reign forever and ever”) indicates that 4,000 weeks is a gross underestimation of how much sand remains in the hourglass. The context of eternal life doubtless casts a new light on the notion of time management.
Indeed, a bright new light: “And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light…”
No more teeing off into a blinding, setting sun.
It turns out that the “vague sense of needing to do more” is, in theological terms, the Law. The (correct, by the way) realization that we’re not good enough to please God and that, perhaps, we simply need to do more (incorrect, by the way).
And Burkeman’s (ultimately incorrect) assessment of the average human lifespan being “absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short” underscores the Gospel.
The truth is that because Jesus did not need to do more (“It is finished”) and applies His righteousness to us, we have considerably more than 4,000 weeks to play with.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are a light for our path and will be so eternally.