Skip to main content

The Right Time

                 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Timing is everything. Actors, comedians, magicians, cooks, athletes, writers, and gardeners all agree. If you do something too quickly, too early, too slowly, or too late, something is likely to not work out well. Cross the finish line in a race after someone else has and you’ve lost the race. Put anything in the oven for too long, and it’s extra-crispy. People aren’t likely to ask you for your recipe.

Part of the problem is that those who don’t have the big picture, or who aren’t aware of the intricate details, are likely to be unhappy with the schedule.

What’s the holdup?

Couldn’t you have waited for me?

                What’s your hurry?

                Wait, wasn’t that supposed to be next Friday?

                Are we there yet?

Quite honestly, we don’t know why God waited until He did before sending Jesus. We assume He could have manipulated things to make everything be “right” any time He wanted. And, I’ve no doubt He could have. But He chose not to. The thing is, no matter when God chose as the right time, people would complain. If they weren’t disgruntled about the timing, they would be about the method. Nothing God does or did receives universal approval. But that doesn’t mean He’s wrong. It means we either don’t understand or aren’t happy so long as He is God and we are not. We cannot see all the pieces of the puzzle and don’t really even know what it’s supposed to look like, but we’re sure that “this piece” should have gone “here” – wherever “here” is.

I think part of the answer is the issue of legal evidence. It must be shown that man can’t do it on his own. It must be shown that even with rules provided, man can’t make it on his own. Only when it is legally established that we have a need for help can the legal help be provided. Every possible solution has been or will be tried and used as the evidence will we really be able to judge between God’s perspective of “right time” and ours?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more