Those on Whom the Fulfillment of the Ages Has Come

1 Cor 10:11-12 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. ESV

      Time is important to me. It is so important, in fact, that I "wear" time on my wrist in the form of a watch. I want to know what time it is, even when I don't have anywhere to go. Down through the ages, humanity has devised countless ways of marking the passage of the hours—from sun dials to water clocks to digital wristwatches. Our interest in time is understandable, since it is a nonrenewable commodity.

God is also interested in time. This is not because He is subject to its limitations, as we are, but because time is the vehicle He uses to unfold His eternal purposes. God is not time-bound, but He is time-conscious. The Bible says that Christ's death took place "at just the right time" (Rom 5:6, NIV). This sense of divine purpose is also reflected in 1 Cor 10:11, where Paul describes believers as those "on whom the fulfillment of the ages have come." Similar language is used in Heb 1:2, which says that although God has spoken in many times and ways in the past, He has spoken through His Son in "these last days."

Jesus spoke of the "present age" and "the age to come." The present age was the time in which He and His disciples were currently living. According to Jesus, the age to come will be signaled by His second coming and the judgment of the wicked (Matt 13:49; 24:3). It will also be the time when God's people inherit their eternal life (Mark 10:30).

Jesus also taught that certain cataclysmic events would take place at the close of the present age. He said that famines, earthquakes, and a growing hardness of heart will prepare the way for the "abomination that causes desolation," or Antichrist. The appearance of Antichrist, in turn, will usher in a period of unequaled distress, or the Tribulation. At the close of this time, a sign will appear in the heavens, and Jesus will return with power and glory (Matt 24:4-31). And when Jesus Christ returns, He will not be alone. He will bring with Him those who have trusted in Him (1 Thess 3:13).

It is this great event to which everything that has occurred in this present age has been building. That is why Paul describes the age in which we are currently living as the "fulfillment of the ages." In ancient Greek, this term referred to a point of culmination or a goal.

This does not mean, however, that Paul was so focused on the future that he had no interest in the present. Nor does it mean that he felt that the past was unimportant. We are told just the opposite in 1 Cor 10:11. This verse tells us that our approach to the present should be shaped by our expectation that Christ will return soon, and that we should also be aware of the lessons that can be learned from the past.

The importance of the present is reflected in the fact that God wants us to apply biblical principles to our current circumstances. His concern is not merely for the "by and by." He is deeply interested in the way we live in the "here and now."

The importance of the past is demonstrated in the fact that many of the principles that help us in the present come from the Old Testament. That is what it means in 1 Cor 10:11, where it says, "These things . . . were written down as warnings for us." These scriptural truths will be especially helpful in preparing us to face temptation (1 Cor 10:12-13). The fate of those who ignored God's commands will provide a solemn reminder of the consequences of disobedience. But the example of those who obeyed in the face of great difficulty will give us confidence whenever we find ourselves similarly tempted. Their stories will provide objective proof that God will never allow us to be tempted without providing a way out (1 Cor 10:13).

Because God is not subject to time limitations like we are, His sense of "timing" is quite different from ours. What seems to us like an interminable delay is no delay at all to Him. The apostle Peter warned that some would misinterpret the time lapse between the end of this age and beginning of the next, noting that what some would take to be "slowness" is actually divine patience. In other words, the delay in Christ's return is intentional, providing an opportunity for those who have not yet heard the gospel to hear, and those who have not yet turned to Christ to trust in Him (2 Peter 3:9).

Nevertheless, while God's interest in the present age is genuine, it is also limited. A day will come when all delays come to an end (Rev 10:6). This time-bound period will give way to an age that is as everlasting as the God who created it. In view of this, it is essential that we make the most of the time that we have. Since the days are few, we cannot afford to squander them: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Eph 5:15).

We can redeem the time that remains by bringing glory to Jesus Christ, who is the focal point of all the ages. We can honor Him through our worship and encourage one another by our words. We can tell those who have not yet trusted in Him of their need to acknowledge Christ as Lord.

The following inscription is engraved over the sundial in Seaham Church of Durham, England:

The natural clock-work by the Mighty One

Wound up at first, and ever since has gone:

No pin drops out, its wheels and springs are good,

It speaks its Maker's praise, though once it stood;

But that was by order of the Workman's power;

And when it stands again, it goes no more.

This is a reminder to us that time is shorter than we realize. And when it is gone, it will take with it all the opportunity it once afforded to bring glory to Christ.

Lord of the Hours, thank You for the gift of this day. I consecrate it to You and pray that You would show me how to make the most of every moment. In thought, word, and deed, may everything I do "redeem the time." Amen.

Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077