“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.” John 17:1
In the days of Habakkuk the prophet, whose book we find in the Old Testament, we find a man of God who is deeply torn by what might be termed a coming storm. However, it is more than a storm, because God will use the Chaldeans, a very ruthless enemy of Israel, to bring her back to Himself. Her condition had become critical from a spiritual standpoint, as iniquity abounded, violence was everywhere, the law was powerless with the result that “…justice never goes forth.” In addition to this, “…the wicked surround the righteous; therefore, perverse judgment proceeds.” (Hab. 1:4) God’s revelation to Habakkuk was a very somber one, for He revealed to him that the storm coming was a people and army, “terrible and dreadful,” who “come for violence” and ascribe their power to their god, and this in defiance of the true and living God. Habakkuk’s plea for God’s mercy would eventually come, but it would be delayed, for Israel had gone too far in her own defiance of God, despite the many revelations of His presence and power, and His Law. God’s time had come, and the moment could not be avoided, for the Lord to speak to Habakkuk: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.” With such a terrible picture of God’s hand of righteous judgment about to be unleashed upon the land, comes the great and glorious words directed still to every living soul, to respond to Him. These life-giving, hope-filled words in Habakkuk’s day until this very day, are still powerfully true: “But the just shall live by his faith.” (2:4) What does God mean by this? The call of God is a call to every soul to believe in Him, surrender to Him, love and obey Him. To not trust Him is to deny, and defy, all that He is as the faithful, trustworthy, and absolutely Holy and good God, the Maker of men, and their sole Redeemer. His call is one to life, not death, to blessing and not to the curse. An example of this is clearly seen even during the seventy-year period of the captivity of Israel by the Babylonians. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord would tell the people, “For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11) God could not bless Israel in the way in which He intended because she was not willing to receive it. In turning away from Him, and thus, putting her trust in false gods, and the creations of her own mind, she plunged into darkness and hardness of heart, a condition of being blind to the light in Christ, refusing to come to that light. Israel’s sole hope was to respond to the overtures of the love of God, by hearing His word, crying out to Him for mercy and grace to obey it, and thus know the power of His saving strength. The time had come in Habakkuk’s day to again, “live by faith.” The time has also come in our day, for the words of the Apostle Paul ring loud and clear down the centuries even to our homes, and hearts: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)
In Jesus’ day, just before his trial and crucifixion, He prayed concerning the Father’s timing, the NOW of His will. Christ’s moment centered upon the salvation of the whole world, and the eternal and temporal blessing brought by the LIFE He would impart to all who would trust Him. The seeking soul’s moment, TODAY, is that opportunity to call upon God, and be saved.
Dear Father, Empower us to respond. In Jesus’ name, Amen.