The concept of time, is, believe it or not, only a temporary phenomenon for the world of men. If you take the 'tree falling in the woods' riddle...about whether it makes a sound or not since there is no one there to hear it, you will be able to see the parallel between these two perspectives.
So let's start with the tree falling in the woods perspective: If a tree falls in the woods and there is nothing around to hear it...does it make a sound? Now, technically and scientifically, yes, it would make a sound even if it is a very very soft inaudible one because sound is generated by the vibrations caused by the moving of air. When the tree falls, it moves the air around it and most likely, moves many other things along with it causing noise. Whether there is someone there or not is irrelevant. The tree will still make a sound.
So now lets take the concept of time: If death ceases to exist, would there be time? Again, we can say, technically, 'yes'....but what if death and humans ceased to exist? What if the world as we know it ceases to exist?
We keep time because we only have a set amount of time. Believers of the Bible keep time because God has measured certain things for certain times...so it's not just a human concept in this perspective but a divine one as well. But consider that God is eternal and he has eternity planned for every person in this world. What will be your eternity?
With eternity, which is also a divine concept, there is no need for time. What is the use of time when you know you will not die? Why rush to make a little more money or, to save money, or, to be with someone when you have eternal life? It is a ludicrous concept for us as men to be impatient, but we are. We know, that in this world as we know it, there is only a short time for us to live out our purposes...or lives...or deaths, even: "Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die!" - Isaiah 22:13.
While the Isaiah scripture is obviously taken out of context, Solomon did write concerning the 'chasing of the wind' that it is good and fitting to "..eat, drink, and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward." Solomon says this four times in the book of Ecclesiastes and he was considered the wisest man the world has ever known. The key scripture though is that this is a gift from God and we should be thankful for it...as opposed to trying to progress to new levels of 'progress' where we try to exert endless energy and time for what amounts to 'dust in the wind'.
So what is my point? My point is that the past, the present, and the future all hinge on one thing, and that is the time in this state of the universe, that God allows you to have. Shouldn't we spend it as Solomon said to spend it...which actually glorifies God...or should we spend it stressing out trying to get that next 'thing'?
I find it way too easy for people in this world to become enslaved by 'its' idea of success while we weren't even created for such things. It's as if we are rushing to try and beat out death: "Look! See...I did it! I created my legacy! Now, I am finally ready to die..." NO ONE says this and means it because we are creatures of 'want'. We will leave behind things that have our heart, whether it is missing someone, or because there is more for us to do...as if we can do everything. Yet, we are tricked...or, trick ourselves even, into thinking this. And after we stress for that paycheck, we go and waste countless hours with things like TV and other forms of entertainment; especially here in the U.S.A. While there is nothing wrong in enjoying some of that, as they are, in fact, the fruit of one's labors, I find that too many people let such things control their lives and when that happens, they can't truly enjoy the fruit of our labors and the gift that God has given to us.
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