Fullness of Time (8/15-19)

15-19 August 2015 - Fullness of Time – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Galatians 4:4 “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son.”

God’s timing is perfect in everything. Sometimes we sighed, perfect time? We are wondering why God doesn’t seem to be active when we have some unanswered prayers. God is working behind the scenes to prepare His moment of plan at the right time. Like Paul said, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son” at the right time.

When I say, “Trust Him. He knows just the right time to do it.” Do you need proof that God really does that? Here’s some history that might “perk you up.” This was the moment that really inspired me very much and I want to share this with you.

A quick look at the history shows that the coming of Christ was at just the right time. I like what New Living Translation quoted, “At last the time has come!” (Mark 1:15). For centuries the Jews had been wondering when their Messiah would come—but God’s timing was perfect. So what exactly was God doing before that right time came?

Let’s look at the nations that were surrounded from Israel before Jesus’ time. Each nation had their own original language. Now suppose a missionary might want to share the Good News, one would have to learn their original language that would have taken a long discouraging time. God saw that. God decided to do something. So Centuries earlier, Alexander the Great conquered the most of the known world, bringing with him the Greek culture and Greek language.

From my old dictionary states: Alexander the Great was the king of Macedonia from 336 to 323 B.C. He conquered the Greek city-states and the whole Persian Empire, from the coasts of Asia Minor and Egypt to India. From Google states: Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a King of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon.

The key was that Alexander the Great commanded the Greek language to become the second language that all nations were to learn from. So therefore, Israel learned the Greek language as their second language beside their original language was Hebrews and later Aramaic. That was not all God did. The next was under the Roman’s rule that the crucifixion took place, where the blood of Christ was shed for us.

It was under the rule of Roman that conditions were made ready for the spread of the gospel across three continents: good roads, territorial boundaries free of “passport” restrictions, and a unifying (unite) language which was the Greek language. God’s providence had put all the pieces in place for the perfect time to send His Son.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He commanded the disciples to “Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). God knew missionaries would need the nations to know the Greek language and be able to “hear” them preach the Gospel. Not only that, God also prepared a good and safe roads for missionaries to travel far and wide, and easy access to any countries. I have to say, “Wow,” God planned it all.

Prayer: Lord, in Your infinite wisdom and power, You work behind the scenes to prepare all things for just the right time. Teach me to wait well and to trust You to know when the fullness of time has come. Teach us O Lord, the disciplines of patience. For us to wait is often harder than to work. Thank you for the Manna that You remind us that Your timing is perfect in everything in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

Song: How big is God

How big is God: how big and wide His vast domain.

   To try to tell these lips can only start.

He’s big enough to rule His mighty universe

   Yet small enough to live within my heart.  

       (Inspiring Choruses)