In The Fullness of Time…

Been thinking a lot about God’s timing…how everything in life depends on God’s perfect time. I was praying about healing a while back, because it’s always been a mystery to me why some people get healed and some people don’t and why it sometimes takes so long for some people to receive their healing…and the Holy Spirit spoke these words to my heart…He said, “In the fullness of time…”

I thought about what Paul said about Jesus in Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Way back in the Garden of Eden, God promised a solution to the “sin” problem. He told the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Tell me, why did it take 4,000 years for God to fulfill that promise? Think about it…why did God wait so long for the mystery of redemption to be fulfilled?

And then I began to consider some of the other promises of God in scripture. Think about the promise that God gave to Noah…it took in some estimations 120 years before God fulfilled that promise. And what about Abraham…he waited 25 years for God to send the Son of Promise. And think about the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years waiting to get to The Promised Land.

And I thought about the ministry of Jesus while He was on the earth. I remembered that man by the Pool of Bethesda in John Chapter 5. There didn’t seem to be anything special about that man…he certainly didn’t seem to have any great faith and there were a whole lot of other people there that day that Jesus could have healed. The scriptures tell us that man had been in that condition for 38 long years. And there he was…once again…laying by the pool waiting for the water to stir. What was it about that particular man on that particular day that caused Jesus to pay attention to him?

Then there was the man in the tombs who was delivered of a “Legion” of demons (Luke 8:26-38). Why did Jesus choose that particular day to go to a place where nobody would “just happen” to be. He went there for a particular reason at a particular time…and that reason was to set this man free.

And there was that Samaritan woman at the well (John chapter 4) Verse 4 tells us, “But He needed to go through Samaria.” What was the urgency…what was the need on this day to go through Samaria? It almost seemed as though Jesus had an appointment to meet with this woman that day…and of course we know the rest of the story.

And then I thought about that day on January 1, 1990. I had been smoker for 25 years. I had prayed and prayed for God to deliver me from the addiction of nicotine for 7 years since I became a Christian. I had tried and tried to quit, even had my young sons lay hands on me to pray for my deliverance a number of times…all to no avail. Many times I heard others tell how when they got saved the Lord delivered them immediately of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes all at one time…but it didn’t happen that way for me. I hated smoking…I hated the fact that a little thing like that could control my life…where I went, what I did and who I hung out with. I wanted them out of my life. Then finally…on that day…Jesus came by! The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and He said, “I’ll take those now.” And just like that…they were gone! Why so long? Why so many prayers? I still don’t know…but “in the fullness of time…” God set me free.

Some of you have been praying for a very long time. You know what it says in God’s Word…and everybody keeps telling you that you just need to “claim God’s promises”…and you have tried and you’ve prayed and you’ve believed and you’ve begged and you’ve pleaded…yet somehow…it just isn’t working for you. Why? What will it take for God to hear and keep His promises to you? Some of you have even come to the place where you have just about given up all hope that God will ever hear you and help you. Remember the woman who said, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” (Matthew 9:21) That dear woman had waited 12 years for Jesus to touch her with healing.

So how long will it take for you? I don’t know my dear Friend. But this I know…“in the fullness of time” God will send the answer you have been longing for…when His time comes, if you are walking in obedience to God, you will receive the promises of God in your life. It’s guaranteed…because this is one thing I do know…God has NEVER, NEVER broken even one of His great promises…He has kept them every one. So if you have been waiting for healing…if you have been waiting for deliverance…if you have been waiting for a loved one to get saved…you can be sure that God hears you and “in the fullness of HIS time” you will see the answer you have been longing for. Until then, take comfort from the words of King Solomon and keep trusting God for His time:

“To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)