I have always been fascinated with time. Time is a great mystery that physicists, philosophers and theologians don’t understand. I have often pondered the theological implications of time and hope one day to write a book. The more I wrestle with time, the more mysterious it becomes.

The one watch I have that does not measure time as a succession of seconds, but actually measures the smooth flow of time is my Grand Seiko Spring Drive watch. The Japanese were inspired by a different understanding of time in achieving this; in fact, time is fundamentally different with my Grand Seiko Spring Drive. It took Japanese engineers 28 years to figure out how to do this and nobody else in the world has been able to replicate the technology in almost three decades since its inception. It has been said that one buys a Rolex to impress others but an engineer buys a Grand Seiko to impress himself. Here is a video explaining this remarkable achievement. As the video asserts, the Japanese “pursued the truth of time” in developing this technology, challenging the laws of physics and time itself. They applied “high level physics to the art of time” pursuing the “truth of time as an experience.” That someone can create something extraordinarily beautiful and complex like this is evidence of someone created in the image of God.

In Feb of 2024, I wrote a paper for Seminary on “The Theology of Time.” Here is the introduction . . .

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5, ESV). Time is a great mystery and incredibly difficult for philosophers, physicists and theologians alike to define. Augustine’s famous enquiry into the nature of time begins by asking “What, then, is time? If no one ask of me, I know; if I wish to explain to him who asks, I know not.” In expounding on the metaphyics of time, Oxford philosophy professor Vincent Grandjean admits that while we experience time vividly and intuitively, yet no accurate and universally-accepted definition of time exists. While we are challenged to intellecutally unwrap the mystery of time, it clearly is somehow foundational to God’s plans and actions for creation per Gal 4:4-5. God the Father sent God the Son when the “fullness of time” had come. What does than mean?

We can approach the understanding of time with three different methodologies: (1) philosophical, (2) scientific, and (3) theological. While each method has its own benefits, I shall argue that it is ultimately only the theological exploration of time that opens the door to a correct temporal understanding of reality. Grappling with time means contending with ultimate metaphysical reality; we cannot limit ourselves to physical reality. Metaphysics addresses questions that are not open to scientific observation, analysis, or experimentation. If we depend solely upon physical reality for our understanding, we inevitably short-ciruit our view of time. If our analysis of music encompasses only its physical aspects (i.e., tone, tempo, notes, scale, etc.) we will never grasp the metaphysics of music and we can never undertand the true purpose and beauty of music. Similarly, if we fail to incorporate metaphysics into our understanding of time, we cannot truly grasp it. Trying to understand time solely via physical phenomena is futile, akin to trying to walk to the horizon—you will never reach your objective.

Grandjean defends the “asymmetry” of time—i.e., that the past is fixed while the future is open. From our perspective, the past is fixed; there is nothing we can do to change the past. But yet the future does truly seem open to us. In Joshua 24:15, the Israelites are commanded to chooose whom they will serve . . . either the gods of the pagan nations, or the one true God. The choice is open to them. On the other hand, from God’s perspective (metaphysics), the future is already determined. Proverbs 16:33 reveals that “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”

Where does time come from? What causes time? These are questions that ultimately must be answered by metaphysical reality.“