March 22, 2022 – Reflections on “In His Time!”

      In His Time. In His Time. All things are beautiful in His time. Lord, please show me every day. As You’re teaching me Your Way, That You do just what You say, In Your Time. (Maranatha Music – Linda Ball)

What is Time? We understand time as years, months, days, minutes, and seconds. We make schedules for our lives, prefacing by saying, It is time to do this, and then that. The question we continually ask is, “What time is it?” This emphasizes staying on the schedule.

A sixth-grade student once asked when God was born. I searched my mind and gave him an answer that seemed to satisfy him. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. The rest of the chapter describes God’s creation in six days. He could have created it all in one day, but He chose to do so in six days. In His Time. The last verse of the first chapter of Genesis proclaims, And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Why did He choose to do so in six days? Everything God does is ‘in His Time’, teaches us. Genesis 2:2-3 is such a teaching. And on the seventh day, God finished his work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. So, God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation. This teaches us to work six days and rest on the Lord’s Day and make it holy by worshiping Him.

Recently, I searched for a name from the past on internet and found page after page of a list of names extending generations back in time. I read this verse long ago, and the reality of God and His Work came back to me. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9.

How did God choose the time for us to be born? What is our purpose in our life? Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have Redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:4-10.

Can you imagine how many spreadsheets it would take for us to plan the creation of the world and when each person would be born to accomplish God’s purpose? Or how to keep the stars in place. Is it any wonder that we are in awe of our Lord God?

We watch the seasons come and go during our personal time-blip in God’s eternity. We revel in seeing the stars and the moon that tell us of His power and majesty and watch dawn after dawn appear. We talk about how refreshing being in nature is, often not realizing we are refreshed because this ‘nature’ is God’s creation.

It is when we understand the truth of this Psalm, a prayer of Moses, who led the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, that we will live for Him. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. Psalm 90:1-2.

God’s Timing is always perfect. I sometimes wonder about Zacchaeus. God made sure a sycamore tree was planted just where Zacchaeus could climb it and see Jesus. It made an eternal difference in the life of Zacchaeus.

How did God know when to send Jesus, His Son, into the world? Or the list of those who believed in God in Hebrews 11? The Faith Chapter contains a listing from Abel to King David, and on to Samuel and the Prophets of those who trusted God.

God loves each of us so much that He sent His Only Son to the world to let us know Who He is. They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” John 8:19.

         For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Nearly every miracle Jesus performed could not have happened, without The Creation. Jesus calmed the sea, healed the blind and the lame, and raised the dead. He turned the water into wine, cleansed the ten lepers, fed the five thousand, walked on the waters of Galilee, He left the Comforter, The Holy Spirit, to be with us and to teach us as we live for Him moment by moment.

Before Jesus left this earth He gave a promise, Matthew 28:20, And lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age. What a blessing to know Jesus is always with us.

         For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11-12. How easily it is to be discouraged and wonder if anyone cares when we are struggling, are ill, or grieve. Growing older day by day becomes a joy when we have the joyous hope of knowing Jesus cares.

The lyrics of the song, “Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed?” The chorus assures us – “Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares!”

How do we find joy and assurance each day? Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. Psalm 37:3-5. “In His Time!”