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.”
Galatians
4:4-5 NKJV
Fullness of
time.
The phrase
surely packs a punch – as if time itself is forced to stand still momentarily before
the unraveling event makes it flow again. And the perpetual waiting finally
comes to an end. But who could discern the fullness of time except God? Who
lives long enough and could see the beginning and the end? It takes one who
lives longer than time itself to declare that it is the fullness of time. It
shouldn’t surprise us to find scarce use of the phrase outside of the Bible.
Only God could declare it is the fullness of time.
They waited
and waited, the Jews who had been given inside information, for the coming of
their Messiah. They were oppressed as a people, and longed to see God’s
salvation. They needed deliverance. Their prophets often asked God how long
they had to wait. So much so when the old prophet saw the baby Jesus show up in the temple he said he
is finally free to die (Luke 2:25-32). What many of them didn’t know was that
the Messiah didn’t come for a people,
He came for all people.
God knows
when it is the fullness of time, and that not only for the birth of Jesus. When it concerns those that He loves, nothing
is too big nothing is too small.
Bryan was taking
the final exams at the end of his second year in college. Studied late the
previous night he woke up one day at an odd time. He was wide awake suddenly
and very fresh, nothing of the drowsiness that he usually feels in transition
from deep sleep. The light the ambience the room temperature all felt odd. He
looked at the clock – it was 2:00pm! And he was supposed to sit for the
Literature paper at 2pm! Immediately he darted from his dorm and rushed to the
exam hall – fortunately at a lower floor in the same building! He was in at
2:10pm while the rest were just settling down to the papers in front of
them. He sat down, did his paper and scored an A for it.
When Bryan
told me his story two weeks ago he was fresh from his exams. He was so eager to share with me his unforgettable experience of being wakened up by God I could see light shining from his eyes. His
gratefulness towards the Lord oozed out of his being and soaked the realm
around us. Life could not be hidden.
Is there
anything you are concerned about? The Lord knows when it is the fullness of
time for you. He will act when the fullness of time is come.
Photo Credit: Grant Cochrane at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Scripture Link: BibleGateway.com
