“He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time.” I heard this statement for many years before I understood what the older saints meant. It was not until my own personal experiences with God’s timing that I could make this same definitive declaration. And now that we are in a global pandemic caused by coronavirus (COVID-19), it is an opportune time to revisit God’s timing. Using biblical examples, we have accounts of God’s intervention in the affairs of men that gives us points of reference for revisiting God’s timeliness. In addition, this new era (2020) establishes a point of reference that will go down in world history.
Our concept of time, as we know it, is irrelevant when it comes to God’s plans and purposes! He is eternal— He has no beginning and no ending! Even the thought that man can control time relative to God’s Sovereignty hinges on ignorance combined with arrogance. Consider this definition of time: The continuum of experience in which events pass from the future through the present to the past. Time is really for man’s benefit. God gave Moses no specific dates and times when he recorded the days of Creation. All we are told are the creative words God spoke that manifested in a span of seven days. Calendars—years and dates originated with men by the grace and wisdom of God after much speculation, calculation, study and research.
Time and calendars give us a point of reference for the realization and scheduling of events and experiences in life. For example, my birth certificate documents my date of birth November 7, 19--, at 1:10 p.m.; however, the specific time nor day is never used. The date validates the reality of my entrance into the world. It only serves as a point of reference as needed to document my age for legal or other specific reasons and celebratory events. The truth is we were all in the mind of an Eternal God before we were conceived in our mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). God purposed each of us to enter the earthly realm at a set (appointed) time so that we would be part of a specific generation and fulfill His purposes. Take a minute and chew on that! It is mind blowing!
Another truth is that we cannot fully comprehend timing in relation to a Sovereign God—His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence is too complex for our finite mind. Therefore, rather than trying to understand it, we should focus on our faith in response to it. That simply means, believe, and expect a demonstration of His power at whatever set time He has purposed to manifest His Presence.
Another example of a set time God chose to reveal Himself is recorded in Isaiah 6:1: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” In the year King Uzziah died was reference point for the prophet to recall his life-changing experience and encounter with the true and living God. Undoubtedly, like Isaiah, many of you have a point of reference to recall your life-changing encounter with God. Throughout the bible, the perfect timing of God is seen in the lives of people like you and me. Nevertheless, at some point, the avalanche of emotional experiences causes us to question the timeliness of God’s intervention in our affairs as we petitioned. Yet, we should not stop praying and believing.
However, it is in Luke's account of Jesus’ perfect timing that really opened the eyes of my understanding and forced me to revisit God’s timeliness especially in troubled times and hopeless situations.
"Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother" (Luke 7:12-15).
Jesus showed up at just the right time! He interrupted the funeral procession of a man being carried out for burial—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. This death would affect this woman’s family inheritance and her economic situation. Her life would never be the same. Oh! But the Master showed up on the scene just in time to miraculously change her situation. The Compassionate One saw the arrows of pain that pierced her heart and exited on her countenance. She had buried her husband and now her only son. Truth is He saw her face long before that day and had scripted the scene to show up on stage at the precise time. That day was purposed in Eternity and would also be precursor to reveal His power and authority over death. It was a point of reference, not only for that mother and son, but for the village spectators and us today to refer to time the widow’s son was raised from the dead. Just as the widow’s hopeless situation was already on Jesus’ timeline, so is yours!
I am sure, like this widow, many are devastated and mourning the death of loved ones and friends. This record of God’s perfect timing should encourage all believers who experience the grievous effects of death to know that God's presence will show up to comfort and strengthen. Whether it is physical or spiritual death, or the death of dreams, visions, and goals, the Lord will still show up. Mothers, be encouraged; do not give up hope for the life of your sons. Jesus can resurrect them from their spiritual death!
We must remember that the Lord Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. His compassions never fail; they are new every morning because He is faithful (Lamentation 3:21-22). The depth of His compassion and unconditional love are most evident by His sacrificial death and glorified resurrection power to secure the salvation of all mankind.
What are you about to bury in the emotional cave of hopelessness? Yes, even as Christians, sometimes it appears as though we cannot take anymore disappointments or hurts. I admonish you do not give up! Trust Him to show up at the perfect time in your difficult experiences of grief, sorrow, and brokenness. He still reveals Himself, comforts us, and rejuvenates us so that we continue in His strength despite emotional upheaval in our lives. It was no coincidence that Jesus approached the gate to the village of Nain just as the funeral procession was coming out the gate. Think about it! What perfect timing!
As you face the continuum of life experiences, keep praying and believing God will show up and reveal Himself to you. Then you too will be able to declare with certainty, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time.” Now is the opportune time establish a point of reference during a pandemic to trust God’s perfect timing to show up in your situation.
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