Have you ever known someone to wait until the last minute to do something? I remember in the service, when we had inspections, we planned weeks in advance. If we failed, it was due in part, that we waited too long. When we think about chores around the house, and even paying bills and going to the doctor. Does not time play a huge part? If we wait too long to see the doctor, it may be too late. Inevitably there is some consequence to waiting too long. All our lives are subject to time. Time, we spend, time we allow, time we measure and especially time we waste. This is the realities of life.
It’s an interesting thing what time is to us. Time is not for the future, it’s for now. We can plan ahead yes, but we can’t harness it, we can’t change it, we will never have enough of it, yet it’s the one thing God gives us graciously so we can live with hope. If I was to ask you, what your plan is to better yourself. I can say for certain that whatever it is, it’s based upon the time God has given you and me. The amount of time we use and even waste can actually change our lives forever. Just as anything we do, to make a change in our lives, we need to set a goal for the future, but we have no time to wait to start. We have to start now.
Although I have done new years resolutions, I find it very hard to keep them, especially when the bar is set high. According to ABC news, in 2021, 80 percent of people are abandoning new years resolutions. And the statement they made was, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Sounds reasonable. But in reality, to make things better in your life, you don’t have to wait for new years, or a special holiday, you can start now, at this very moment. Scripture tells us “Today is the day of salvation.” Tomorrow is not a guarantee, only a gift. And when we have the opportunity to do something with our time, we should do it with all our being. Scripture tells us, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”
A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. “Reverend,” said the young man, “I’m so sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.” The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean. It’s the same in my business.”
All of us have experience the last minute blues. And as we discover in life, sometimes waiting too long can be very hazardous. In fact, in todays Scripture readings, you will see just how important it is to not wait to do what God tells us to do, but it is vital to our walk in this world. Finishing up with the Christmas holiday, we will reflect upon the nativity scene once again, but this time with the aspect about how Gods timing was vitally important for the Christ child, Joseph, Mary and many others involved.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi [wisemen] from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
In stopping right here, notice the term ‘His Star’ was used. The magi, or wisemen, came from a far distance and prepared themselves to follow His Star. Some theologians even suggest the magi traveled as far as months away from their homeland. Right there tells you planning was very much important in perspective to time. And, not knowing how many wisemen arrived, we see that their emphasis was to follow a brilliant and miraculous star seen in the heavens, at the specific time as they declared the star being just for the wisemen to lead them to the King of the Jews. Now, we do not know nothing about the wisemen, what religion, what denomination or even the color of their skin. We know one thing for sure! They followed the star by direction of God’s design in God’s timing. If they waited too long, they would have missed it. They acted swiftly in their efforts to follow the star.
Had they NOT answered God’s calling to travel a far off, the nativity story would perhaps be different, but God would work things out according to His will. And remember friends, before Jesus was even on the scene, God was silent with Israel for over 400 years. Now, there is shedding light of hope on the horizon. Magi did give reassurance to Israel, you are not forgotten because we follow His star to Bethlehem.
But what I find very interesting about the story of the magi, after they gave Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, is in verse 12, “Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
Herod tried to persuade the magi to lead him to this new King, with an ulterior motive to not worship, but remove the new King from Herods kingdom. A threat to Herod and a liberator to the people of the world.
There was no time to wait for the magi, as there was no time to wait for Joseph to depart from Israel and flee into Egypt. Now when they had gone [the wisemen], behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
If Joseph had waited too long, Jesus would be in grave danger. Our story of the nativity would have a different ending. Joseph didn’t wait to do what God directed him to do. As you read in verse 15 the prophet Hosea declared in chapter 11, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.” Gods timing was perfect from prophecy of the messiah to when the magi would come to baby Jesus, to when Joseph should flee with Jesus and Mary. There was no time to wait.
And if there was any doubt about how important it is for us not to wait, listen Luke ch. 1 verse 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Just think if mary said, I don’t know Lord. I’m not sure if I want to, or any other excuse to wait. What a difference would it be.
Throughout the nativity story and in our lives today, Gods timing is fitting to whatever circumstance arises. If it wasn’t for people of God doing His work at a specified timing, then a blessing, a purpose and a cause would potentially be missed. If we read in the Gospel of Luke Ch. 2, we find Gods timing was vitally important to the Holy family of a man named ‘Simeon.’ Now as it was with Jewish custom, when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus before the leaders in Jerusalem, it was Old Testament law to bring an offering of a lamb, turtle doves or pigeons. As they arrived at the temple, the man Simeon was waiting there for the consolation of Israel. He was there day in and day out. And God promised Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Verse 29. Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples: 32 A light for revelation for the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
In Gods timing Simeon’s prayer was answered, fulfilled Gods promise to save mankind. Its obvious Simeon knew by way of the Holy Spirit, when we laid his eyes on Jesus, Joseph and Mary who they where. So Simeon gave them a blessing and said to Mary, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Gods timing doesn’t end there. Anna, a prophetess, was a widow of 84 years, and who did not depart from the temple while serving God daily. She prayed, fasted and spread the word of Godly thanks to all those who looked for redemption. Gods purpose was revealed through not only Joseph, Mary and Jesus, but Simeon and Anna as well. Simeon and Anna waited for Gods timing but not waiting to do Gods work. They acted prominently with full assertion of His purpose and Love for all people.
Think about how often God waited for us to respond to Him. God was ever ready to forgive us, and He patiently waited for us to come to Him. But we have to take action. What if God wasn’t willing to wait for us to do His work? What a different story that would be!
Proverbs tells us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Jeremiah tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
Basically, Do not wait! Call upon God now, and He will listen.
In closing friends, in trying to understand how important time is to God, lets look at the Prophet Ezekiel. In the book of Ezekiel ch. 24, we find the Ezekiel was a prophet to speak to the people of Israel, as the King of Babylon invaded Israel. God told Ezekiel I am about to take something precious from you. You shall not mourn, weep or shed a tear, but I want you to do my work to spread my word to Israel. In verse 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded. Gods timing for Ezekiel was vitally important. God gave Ezekiel the strength needed to spread Gods word, save people, distribute Gods blessing, and so much more. Just like us today! Scripture tells us, Nothing is too wonderful for the Lord!
You see friends, to make a change in your life, to worship and serve God, we need not wait for all the stars to line up, the waters to split wide open, a miracle to happen right before us. You can start today by listening and be willing to serve God. There is no time to wait.
As we learn not to wait to do Gods work, we learn to make the effort in seeking him; we learn God will give us all the strength, power and stability to do it His timing. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
2 Peter tells us , “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Our timing is not His timing. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. I think about Noah, how over 100 years of building the ark, so many people saw him and experienced him, yet, only noah and his family was saved. The people waited too long as what scripture tells us, God shut the door. Don’t let that be you friends. Don’t wait, find God, search for God and seek God in every area of your lives as there is NO TIME TO WAIT. Amen