“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son…” Galatians 4:4
Dear Ones:
Just after the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding on the back of a donkey, being worshiped and praised as “the King of Israel, that comes in the name of the Lord,” something occurred that seemingly signaled that the Lord’s time had come. There would be some Greeks, who had come to Jerusalem to worship during the feast of the Passover. Immediately after learning that these men had asked Philip that they might SEE Jesus, the Lord speaks to Andrew and Philip, and perhaps all of the disciples gathered there, saying: “THE HOUR IS COME, that the Son of man should be glorified.” (Jn. 12:23) What had occurred? Beyond the sight and “wisdom of men,” God the Father had revealed to the Lord Jesus, that the time had come for the beginning of the end of redemption’s work. In essence, the cross came into view, and stood before Him as the final, and culminating terrible conclusion to His work in dealing with the sin of the world, laying the foundation for the salvation of all men.
There is no doubt that everything in the life of the Lord Jesus had a specific time. Paul writes that God sent forth His Son, to be born of a woman, “in the fullness of time,” at exactly the right time in the history of the world. The Psalmist writes that Joseph, sold as a servant into Egypt, suffered as such “…until the time that God’s word came.” (Ps. 105:19) God’s timing was perfect, as He looked into the heart of Joseph, and saw that the work was done. God had prepared, and formed his man, to be the instrument by which thousands, if not millions, of people would be saved, in particular the seed of Abraham. When Moses was on the backside of the desert, and saw the burning bush, God spoke to him, revealing Himself clearly as “the God of thy father, the God of Abraham…” (ex. 3:6) Moses was eighty years old at the time. Forty years beforehand, he had escaped the riches, glamour, grandeur, and “godlessness” of Egypt, to become a shepherd of sheep. As with Joseph, “in the fullness of time,” God would speak to Moses, and set in motion one of the greatest stories of redemption and deliverance of all time. At this time, Moses did not think himself adequate for the task of delivering Israel. However, God had chosen His man at this time, having prepared him for his mission. Moses would defer his idea of time, to the wisdom and will of God. His time had now come.
So, how does the matter of God’s timing apply to us? Our understanding of this “wisdom” of which Moses’ writes in Psalm 90, concerning time, begins with prayer: “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (v.12) God looks into the heart, and sees what transpires there with regard to one’s attitude towards Him. He is ever at work in us, “…to will and to do of His good pleasure.” He works to bring us to the point of hearing His voice, being assured, even convinced of His will, in order for us to respond in obedient faith. God saw in David’s heart attitude, a desire and will, to know and trust, Christ fully. He saw in Joseph and in Moses, hearts that would be faithful to Him. Paul would write of the same issue: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that He counted me FAITHFUL, putting me into the ministry.” (1 Timothy1:12) So important is this matter of faithfulness and loyalty to Christ, that Paul would instruct Timothy: “…the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit to FAITHFUL men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim. 2:2)
Dear Father, You who work in the quiet depths of our hearts, work in such measure that we shall be ready in YOUR time, and in YOUR way, to accomplish YOUR will and work. Enable us to BE faithful in all things, today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad