The Limitation of Time
The concept of time is learned from the six days of creation. Once the sun, moon, and stars were created on the fourth day, we had a clear understanding of what constituted one day. “It was evening and it was morning, one day.”
The day seemed to begin with the rising and setting of the sun. And the night began when the moon and stars appeared in the sky.
The concept of time is very much limited to man. The eternal soul that is man possesses, is placed in a body that lasts for up to 120 years. This explains why man’s capacity to perceive lofty and spiritual concepts have restrictions. Spiritual beings such as angels, have a much greater spiritual potential as they are not made of flesh and blood.
The goal of man is to tap into his soul, which is eternal. He is meant to put much less emphasis on the physical and material side. This is a difficult challenge as man must learn to make the correct choices in overcoming temptation.
It is much easier to give in to the physical, rather than pursuing the path of spirituality. This is what separates the truly great individuals from the mediocre.
Moshe Rabbeinu epitomized the ultimate in terms of man’s potential. He became a completely spiritual being. He did not need to eat bread or drink water for the forty days he was on Mount Sinai. He was described as the one who “Knew Hashem, face to face.”
It is important to understand both man’s limitations as well as his potential. Rav Kook spoke of the אור הגנוז, “the hidden light,” that is revealed to man when he gets closer and closer to G-d.
This also explains why the truly saintly Jews were not afraid of death. They saw the positive side of no longer being confined to their bodies. Their souls would not only live on, but they would be able to experience the holiness of the higher worlds.
Man is bound by time that reflects man’s limitations. This realization should motivate man to use his time wisely, so that he is able to achieve his full potential. Connecting to the holy and the spiritual, brings meaning to man, and gives him the greatest contentment in this world.