God's perfect timing

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Gal 4:4-5 (NASB).

As we celebrate Christmas, let us be reminded that God sent His Son Jesus Christ into this world about 2000 years ago at a perfect time.  That was the period where death by crucifixion was used commonly by the Romans. It was a cruel and painful way of executing criminals, which God's Son was subjected to.  The prophet Isaiah foretold of the Messiah's crucifixion when he said, "He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed." (Is 53:5).  In this way, blood was spilled for the atonement of sins.  The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there's no forgiveness of sin (Heb 9:22).

During the Feast of Booths, Jesus told his disbelieving (half) brothers, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come."  (Jn 7:6-8).   Jesus operated on God's timing when He was on earth in order to fulfill Scriptures or to reveal God's glory.  When He heard that Lazarus was sick, He delayed in going to visit his dear friend until he has died (Jn 11:6,14).  This was in order that He might manifest God's glory through rasing Lazarus from the grave (Jn 11:40-44).

Many times we are impatient and cannot wait for God's timing.  Abram and Sarai couldn't wait for the promised son and as a result Ishmael was brought forth.  The Arab-Israeli conflict can be traced back to this event (Gen 16).  King Saul couldn't wait for the prophet Samuel to arrive and started offering sacrifices on his own.  This resulted in the kingdom being taken away from him (1 Sam 13:11-14).  Joseph provided us with a positive role model of someone who waited patiently for God's timing (apart from Christ) although initially he displayed arrogance.  He did not deviate from following God even when he was in prison.  We are told that until the time God's word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested Joseph (Ps 105:19). 

Are you waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise(s) to you?  Then learn from Jesus and Joseph what it means to subject oneself to God's will.  It won't be an easy road when your faith is tested many times and you feel like giving up.  The devil is also hard at work to torpedo God's plan for your life.  If you have a genuine word from the LORD, you have to pray diligently for it to come to pass.  In the meantime, live in obedience to God's word found in the Bible.  Remember God's timing is perfect and He's no rush to bring His promise(s) to pass until He sees Christ formed in you.  

My family and I have been praying for my dad's salvation for over 30 years.  Why did it have to take so long for God to soften his heart?  I don't know.  But one thing we try to do is to show God's love and to provide for his needs.  It takes a process of time for the Father's love to be revealed to him, I guess.  The pain in his body could also play a part in him seeking for the Healer, and eventually the Saviour.  We continue to pray that Jesus would be the only One residing within his heart and that eventually the altar in the home would be removed.