Have you ever grown impatient as you wait for God? If you are honest, you’d have to admit that you have grown weary in waiting a time or two in life. Stop and think about the facts: God has everything in control. He does everything perfectly, including His timing. So why worry and fret? A great place to turn for a lesson in God’s timing is birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:4–5 (ESV) — 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Notice the words, “when the fullness of time had come.” God sent His son into the word at just the right time. How so? Consider the following:
Consider the fulfillment of prophecy. All through the time from creation to the coming into the world of the Lord Jesus Christ, there were prophecy’s concerning Christ to let people know that His coming was certain, thereby creating and assuring a sense of hope. From the prophecy in Genesis chapter three to the words given to Jacob and David, to the specific prophecies of Isaiah and other prophets to even the seventy weeks of Daniel. All had to be fulfilled.
Genesis 3:15 (ESV) — 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Genesis 49:9–10 (ESV) — 9 Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) — 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Daniel 9:25–26 (ESV) — 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
Not only prophecies but consider the times in the conditions that were “just right” when Jesus arrived on the scene. The Roman rule brought a sense of order and safety in the known world. Granted there were many difficulties but there was a sense of peace as in the squelching of anarchy. It was the cause for Mary and Joseph to go from Nazareth to Bethlehem. In addition, the Romans were known for establishing and maintaining means of travel in shipping and in the building of roads. Think of how this would be a major factor in the spread of the Gospel. It was just the right time.
Not only that but the Greek influence of perfection of language skills and seeking after wisdom made for the communication of the Gospel and at least an appearance of an openness to the Gospel.
Acts 17:22–23 (ESV) — 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
Acts 18:4 (ESV) — 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Not only were conditions ripe, but there were of the Jews those who were faithfully awaiting the coming of Messiah.
Luke 2:25–30 (ESV) — 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
Of course, there were those who were blinded by the times and by the long wait who had gone from living by hope to scoffing, much like of that described in 2nd Peter regarding the second coming of Christ.
2 Peter 3:3–9 (ESV) — 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
God’s timing is perfect! As you celebrate the incarnation of Christ this year, take some time to reflect upon Galatians 4:4-5 and know if the coming of Christ was a demonstration of God’s perfect timing, know that He who has all things under control will also bring what is needed in your life at just the right time.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
