“Chronos (croh’-nohs) is sequential time. The Bible speaks to Chronos when it says, Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NIV
We are hyper-aware of Chronos. We hear, “Don’t waste time”, “Time waits for no one”, “Time is of the essence”, and “Time is money,” and worry about losing it, running out of it, or being consumed by it. We struggle to keep track of it and try to control it.
(The irony of this post coming after Chronos stole an hour from us as we slept is not lost on me.)
Kairos (kahy’-rohs) is the appointed time God has chosen for an event to occur. Kairos moments are measured by what is happening. In Kairos, Eternity steps into time and we catch a glimpse of God. The Bible also speaks of Kairos:
At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Isaiah 60:22b NLT
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:15 Christian Standard Bible
“In Kairos we’re allowed to be…” Chronos, though, makes us feel guilty about just “Being.”
God operates in Kairos time: He is beyond space and time. He is eternal and has no beginning and no end. His time is always an eternal Now.
It is no small thing, then, that God Incarnate stepped into Chronos for our sake.
But when the right time came, God sent his Son ... Galatians 4:4a NLT
Jesus lived a Kairos life though His relationship with His Father.
But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” John 5:17 NLT
And it is through Him that Kairos moments comes to us.
… for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 NIV
Kairos moments often seem intrusions when we are stuck in Chronos living; they rarely fit into our plan for the day. So, we have to decide. Do we lay aside our plans for the sake of what God is doing in the moment?
“With Chronos, we count our years while with Kairos, we make our years count.” (unknown)
Which would you rather do?
