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The word kairos was an ancient Greek word meaning 鈥渙pportunity,鈥� 鈥渟eason,鈥� or 鈥渇itting time.鈥� Another Greek word for 鈥渢ime鈥� was chronos. A sequence of moments was expressed as chronos, emphasizing the duration of the time; an appointed time was expressed as kairos, with no regard for the length of the time. Thus, chronos was more linear and quantitative, and kairos was more nonlinear and qualitative.

The Bible uses the word kairos and its cognates 86 times in the New Testament (e.g., in Matthew 8:29; Luke 19:44; and Acts 24:25). The word often includes the idea of an opportunity or a suitable time for an action to take place. When we 鈥渟eize the day,鈥� we are taking advantage of the kairos given to us. Kairos is related to the Greek word kara (鈥渉ead鈥�). A kairos is a time when things 鈥渃ome to a head,鈥� requiring decisive action.

In Jesus鈥� parable of the wheat and the tares, the Lord refers to the coming judgment as a harvest: 鈥淎t that time [kairos] I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn鈥� (Matthew 13:30). By using kairos here, Jesus emphasizes the fact that Judgment Day is an appointed time, and at that time will occur certain things appropriate for the day.

There was 鈥渁n appointed time鈥� for John the Baptist to be born (Luke 1:20). The Lord promises to reward His servants at 鈥渢he proper time鈥� (Luke 12:42). Jesus predicts that Israel will be judged 鈥渂ecause you did not recognize the time of God鈥檚 coming to you鈥� (Luke 19:44, emphasis added). Each of these uses of kairos denotes a unique time in which something special was to happen.

The Bible warns that we should take full advantage of the opportunities God gives us. Unbelievers have the responsibility to respond to opportunities to believe the gospel. Jesus鈥� first recorded sermon was simple: 鈥淭he time [kairos] has come. . . . The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!鈥� (Mark 1:15). When the people of Galilee were confronted with Jesus鈥� life-changing message, God expected them to believe.

Governor Felix was listening to Paul speak, and 鈥渁s [Paul] reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, 鈥楪o away for the present. When I get an opportunity [kairos] I will summon you鈥欌�� (Acts 24:25, ESV). Felix wanted to pick his own opportunity to respond to the gospel, ignoring the opportunity of the present. In so doing, he did respond—he rejected the gospel.

Paul communicated the urgency of the gospel: 鈥淚 tell you, now is the time [kairos] of God鈥檚 favor, now is the day of salvation鈥� (2 Corinthians 6:2). There is a window of opportunity to accept God鈥檚 salvation, and we do not know when that window will close.

The believer must take advantage of opportunities to serve the Lord. 鈥淎s we have opportunity [kairos], let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers鈥� (Galatians 6:10). We must be 鈥渕aking the most of every opportunity [kairos], because the days are evil鈥� (Ephesians 5:16). And 鈥渓et us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time [kairos] we will reap a harvest if we do not give up鈥� (Galatians 6:9).