Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Promise of His Coming (29)

Sometimes we can wonder why things happen the way they do, and at the time they do. We want something to happen according to our timescale, and then get angry with God when he isn't bound by our plans and timetables. Perhaps it's losing your job just before Christmas (when in the New Year God has arranged something better than you could have imagined). Or the plans to buy your dream home fall through at the last minute - you've waited for so long, and then it still doesn't happen.

Just think of the people of Israel waiting for the Christ to appear. They had those promises, to Eve, to Abraham, to David, to Solomon, to the kings and prophets and people. The people went into exile, and returned from exile. And then silence. A long silence.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5)

God was acting according to his timetable, not Israel's. When the time was right, when the fullness of time had come, then and only then, God sent forth his Son. He was born under the law to save those under the law; he was born of woman to save those born of woman.

The law stood accusing us, Jesus redeemed us from it, by perfectly fulfilling it, and by bearing our punishment. As a result, we are transferred from the sinful family of Adam to the righteous family of God, adopted as sons to share with The Son his family privileges and remain with him forever.

And when the fullness of time has come, when the Father has purposed, Jesus will return, and time shall cease, as all his people are brought home together. We don't know when it will be, but we earnestly look forward to it. Come, Lord Jesus, come, in your perfect timing.

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