Thursday, January 6, 2011

Never Late, Never Early

Galatians 4:1-7:
I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
But when the fullness of time had come . . .
What a wonderful phrase! "When the fullness of time had come." It is the gospel counterpart to the biblical lament “How long O Lord?”

That there is a fullness of time reminds us that “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness” (2 Peter 3:9).

I am reminded of Gandalf's words to Frodo in The Fellowship of the Ring: "A wizard is never late, nor is he early; he arrives precisely when he means to."
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.

-- Habakkuk 2:3

There’s a date set! It will not delay.

Are you waiting for deliverance from something? Are you longing for the Lord's return?

God’s timing is perfect. He’s never late nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.

2 comments:

Jason said...

Amen!!

Roberta said...

Thanks for the encouragement and for giving us hope. Come quickly Lord Jesus!