ECCLESIASTES 3: IT'S ABOUT TIME

IT’S ABOUT TIME

(Ecclesiastes 3)

There is a time for everything,

A season for every activity.

It’s part of God’s design,

Based on practicality.

There’s a time to be born and a time to die,

A time to plant and uproot.

God’s order of things cannot be changed;

In fact, the point is moot.

A time to kill and a time to be killed,

Not desired, but nonetheless true.

There’s a time to heal from hurts,

Emotional and physical too.

There’s a time to tear down and a time to build,

Or build and later tear down.

It’s an ongoing building cycle,

Within every city and town.

There’s a time to weep and a time to laugh

To mourn and even dance.

Whether we cry or rejoice,

Depends on the circumstance.

There’s a time to scatter stones,

Meaning people or things to spread.

Other times stones are gathered;

When the people by God are led.

There’s a time to embrace and a time to refrain;

It depends on who or what.

There are those who deserve a hug,

But one who tempts does not.

There’s a time to search and a time to give up,

Especially when searching among rubble.

Seeking the lost is an ongoing search,

But don't go looking for trouble.

There’s a time to keep and to throw away,

A time to tear and mend.

Give up what cannot be fixed,

But always keep a friend.

There’s a time to be silent and a time to speak;

And tho’ silence can be like gold,

When salvation is at stake,

It’s time to speak up and be bold.

There’s a time to love and a time to hate;

We should all hate what is evil.

Yet we love what we shouldn’t and shun the good,

And it brings our lives upheaval.

There’s a time for war and a time for peace,

And though the latter we seek,

War is sometimes necessary,

And the bold must protect the weak.

Time goes on as it passes away;

It flies or it seems to stand still.

We try our best to borrow it,

And time we claim to kill.

One day time will surely end;

A new heaven and earth will evolve.

The idea is a mystery,

That in heaven the Lord will solve.

Becky Wall