What is the biblical perspective on TIME? That is, what does GOD have to say about TIME
and our relationship to it? First of all, there are GOD-ORDAINED SEASONS
that are divinely ordered and strategically positioned within our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that “to
everything there is a SEASON, and a TIME to every purpose under the heaven.” This scripture mandates SPECIFIC TIMES –
to be born, to die, to plant, to harvest, to kill, to heal, to break, to build,
to weep, to laugh, to mourn, to dance, to throw, to gather, to embrace, to
refrain, to gain, to lose, to keep, to cast away, to rend, to sew, to be
silent, to speak, to love, to hate, to make war and peace. To wit, one
practical definition for WISDOM is “the ability to be time-conscious and
time-sensitive.”
Kingdom Principle Number One: GOD ESTABLISHES COVENANT WITHIN
SPECIFIC TIME FRAMES AND DEFINED BEHAVIORAL PARAMETERS. Sarah bore Abraham a God-promised son – at a
set time. (Genesis 17:21 and 18:14) God rested and thereafter mandated
our weekly rest – at a set time. (Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8) Every
male in Israel was commanded to appear before God in certain ways – at set
times. (Exodus 23:14-17) Jesus Christ died for our atonement in a
particular manner – at a divinely appointed time. (Romans 5:6)
Kingdom Principle Number Two: WHENEVER WE FAIL TO OPERATE ON GOD’S
CLOCK, WE SET OURSELVES UP FOR FRUSTRATION AND FAILURE. We cannot afford
to get ahead of God; neither will we achieve optimal blessings when we do not
step forward (boldly, confidently, immediately) at His command. Abraham was
both blessed and a blessing because “he staggered not at the promise of God…but
was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” (Romans 4:19-21) Despite the
fact that Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah’s womb was well beyond her fertile
years, they sustained faith in God and acted in concert with divine revelation
and timing.
Kingdom Principle Number Three: DELAY IS A SATANIC STRATEGY FOR
PERMANENT DENIAL. Had Moses responded
doubtfully (or casually) to God’s command to ‘cover’ every Jewish doorway with
lamb’s blood, the firstborn of Israel would have perished alongside the
firstborn of Egypt. Had Bartimaeus been
hesitant to call out to Jesus at the precise moment he was passing by, that
blind man would have lived out his remaining days without vision. Had
Jairus not moved with confident and expeditious faith in the direction of The
Great Physician, his daughter likely would have died. Hebrews 4:7 informs us that even God’s grace
and mercy operate within the framework of preset seasons. Consequently,
man’s temporal delay can ultimately result in eternal separation from
God. There are hundreds of scriptural exemplars where THE OPERATION OF
TIMELY FAITH MOVES GOD and thus transforms human circumstances.
Carvin Winans, the twin brother of Bishop Marvin Winans, penned a
thought-provoking gospel song entitled “Tomorrow.” One segment of the
song lyrics: “Tomorrow…who promised you tomorrow…better give your life
today…for tomorrow very well might be too late.” It would do well for those
of us who serve the Lord to remember that ‘The Manana Syndrome’ is not only a
satanic tactic to prevent personal salvation (Isaiah 55:6), it is also a
delaying strategy designed to marginalize and minimize God’s Kingdom, that is,
to keep believers from the fulfilling mission of rescuing the perishing. (II
Corinthians 4:3) So please…please…do not delay! One little known
secret behind King David’s success was his determination to act in timely
obedience to God. David had an
unequivocal response to the King of Kings.
He wrote “I made haste, and
DELAYED NOT to keep thy commandments.” (Psalm 119:60) Jesus Christ
sums it up so well: “I must work the works of him that sent me, WHILE IT IS
DAY: the night comes, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)
Prayerfully consider this: Are you presently caught in a chronic
holding pattern – a place of persistent procrastination and daily delay? Think carefully. Examine yourself
objectively. Do it now! Prayerfully consider your motives, your
motivations, your proclivities and your priorities – in contrast with your
daily agenda. What specific strategies do you have in place NOW (or which
ones can you immediately adopt) to hold your feet to the fire? What choices will you make TODAY to be
responsible and accountable for performing YOUR KINGDOM ASSIGNMENT with
precision, punctuality and power? Think and do!
Sisters and
brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE
READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
No comments:
Post a Comment