News agencies and experts around the globe echo the same assessment, Japan is in a race against time. The race competitors are Japan’s efforts to stop a nuclear disaster vs. Time. Right now time is in the lead. The methodical tic-toc continues on in spite of all the resources, expertise, and efforts that man has put forth in the last week. Every new idea, every new ounce of man power is met by the relentless and tireless continuation of time.

There are other participants in this race. The melting rods, radiation leaks, even lack of sleep are all players in this race. But, none of them would have any chance at all at beating the Japanese without their ally–Time. Men get tired. Time never does. Equipment fails. Time is flawless. Mistakes cripple plans. Time is always whole.

 The seriousness of the circumstances in Japan in their race against time has given me a hypothesis…

Each and every human being is in a race and their greatest competitor is TIME!

I don’t think this is really earth shattering news to anyone, but events like what Japan is facing brings us face to face the reality of that statement.

Each one of us may have other competitors in our life race, but the one that is common to us all and will in the end win the race of life is TIME! Before you accuse me of being a fatalist, let’s look at some facts. Fact number one, we all will die. Fact number two, time will continue after we die. Fact number three, we all will have unfinished business, things not done, goals yet to be achieved when we die. No one dies having accomplished all they wanted to. Therefore, fact number four…Time Wins…Every…Time.

But, there is one more very important fact to input into this equation and His name is Jesus Christ! He alone is the victor over time. It’s easy for Him. He created it. He controls it. And for His disciples, they too, will win in the race against time. As His child, this brings me great comfort and a great challenge.

It is a comfort because when I die it will appear that time has won, but appearances can be deceiving. My death is not the end of me, it is the beginning of how God intended me to be. My life without the competitor of time, eternity. I look forward to that.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” I Thessalonians 13,14

It is a challenge because I will give an account of how well I have run my race against time. Sometimes I am ashamed for my poor showings vs. time. Today was such a day and time would like to keep me pinned down. But, I don’t have to stay down and I will not stay down. Not because I’m such a great race runner, but because I know the Victor over time!

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

I pray the people of Japan will continue to be strong competitors in their race against time. And I am grateful God is in control of their need. Time may rattle on, but God often gives man the edge…just in the nick of time.