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| Seasonal Reflections |
We learn from Scripture that “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity…” (Eccl. 3:1-3). Notice it says a time for everything, and then separately it refers to a season for every activity. That's what I want to talk to you about today.
A Time for Miracles
Jesus said a lot about time. There is a time for us to be involved in miracles. Jesus replied, “Dear woman, why do you involve me?
My time has not yet come.” (Jn. 2:4). Then he proceeded to turn the water to wine, his first miracle.
There’s also a time to be healed, a time to plant, a time to laugh. Timing is the key to every miracle. One Friday, one of our elders named Bob had a bad fall. This was the seventh time he had fallen in recent years. He hurt his neck and wrist and was limping. That night, a brother named Jeremiah was visiting and he prayed for Bob, who was then miraculously healed without any more pain. This was the Lord’s timing, that His glory might be revealed.
Remember that Lazarus fell ill and Jesus was told about it. Then Lazarus died, and Jesus showed up four days later in the timing of the Lord. It seemed like Jesus was too late and had missed the opportunity to heal Lazarus. Yet Jesus raised him from the dead, and the glory of the Lord was revealed.
Harvest Time
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| Golden Grain Harvest |
There is a time for souls to be harvested. "Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the
time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.'" (Mat 13:30)
“Do you not say, ‘Four more months and then the harvest? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields. They are ripe for harvest!” (Jn 4:35). The Lord wants to teach us to observe with the eyes of our spirit from moment to moment, and see things as God sees them, rather than the way they appear in the natural realm.
There is a designated time to do the Lord's work. Jesus said, "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work." (Joh 9:4). As long as it is day, we must work the works of the Lord, because the night is coming when no man can work.
Understanding the Times
Jesus said, “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as the twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.” (Mk 13:28). We need to develop a similar ability to understand the times by what we see, hear, and sense in our spirit.
There are various times and seasons that occur on God's timeline. Some people don't believe there is any such thing as dispensations, but it is right in the Bible. For example, there is the time of God's favor, which we are currently in. "For he
says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I
helped you.' I tell you, now is
the time of God's favor, now is the day
of salvation." (2 Cor 6:2).
There is also "the times of the Gentiles." Jesus said, "They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the
times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." (Lk 21:24, NIV). The times of the Gentiles began with the salvation of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10, and it continues until it is fulfilled at a future date that is soon approaching.
There is the time of Jacob's trouble. Jeremiah said, "How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be
a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it." (Je 30:7, NIV). This is also called the time of punishment. "For this is
the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written." (Luk 21:22, NIV). This period runs concurrent with the time of great distress, known as the Great Tribulation. "For then there will be
great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again." (Mt 24:21). This period will last for a time, times, and a half time, during which the antichrist will reign on earth.
"He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for
a time, times and half a time." (Dan 7:25, NIV).
"The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, 'It will be for
a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.'” (Dan 12:7, NIV).
"When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for
a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus." (Rev 12:14-17, NIV)
A Time to Be Persecuted
Jesus warned us in advance that a time will come for us to be persecuted. "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but
an hour is coming for
everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God…But these things I have spoken to you, so that
when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. (Joh 16:2,4)
A Time for True Worship
Jesus said, “Woman, believe Me,
an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father…But
an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.” (Joh 4:21,23). There was even timing for this juncture in the history of mankind when the nature of worship would be changed.
A Time for Plain Talk
Jesus said, “A
time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.” (Jn 16:25). There is a time for receiving clear revelation of the Father. In fact, immediately after He said that, His disciples realized He was no longer speaking to them figuratively, but plainly.
Jesus' Entire Life Happened on God's Schedule
There was a time for Jesus to be born. Paul said that God sent His Son “when the time had fully come.” (Galatians 4:4). There was a time for Jesus to begin preaching. Jesus came preaching the gospel of God and saying, "The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mar 1:15). The word for time is “kairos”, meaning “set or proper time, season, or time.”
Whenever His enemies tried to seize Him, before it was time for Him to be crucified, they were unable to do so. “So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because
His hour had not yet come.” (Joh 7:30)
“These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because
His hour had not yet come.” (Joh 8:20)
Jesus brothers were going up to the Feast and asked Jesus if He was coming with them. “So Jesus said to them, ‘
My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune…Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because
My time has not yet fully come.’" (Joh 7:6,8). As children of God, not just any time is right. There is a right time that we must wait for.
There was Jerusalem's "time of visitation" when God visited the city through His Son Jesus Christ. However, they did not recognize it. He said, "You did not recognize
the time of your visitation." (Luk 19:44b)
The Lord knew when the hour had come for Him to glorify God by giving His life on the cross for the sins of the world. “And Jesus answered them, saying, ‘
The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” (Joh 12:23).
"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from
this hour'? But for this purpose
I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice came out of heaven: ‘I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.’" (Joh 12:27-28)
“Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father,
the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You…’” (Joh 17:1)
There was a time for Him to be betrayed. He said, “Look,
the hour is near and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Mt 26:45; cf. Mk 14:41). There was a time for Jesus to be handed over to be crucified. Jesus knew it would be “during the Passover.” (Mt 26:2).
He told the disciples, “Now is your time of grief.” (Jn 16:22). There was a time for His disciples to grieve for Him. There was even a time for Peter’s denial of Christ. It was to happen “this very night before the rooster crows.” (Mt 26:34). The Lord even knows in advance when we will stray and disobey.
He knew when the hour had come for all His disciples to be scattered. "Behold,
an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” (Joh 16:32).
Jesus also knew the time He would rise from the dead would be on the third day. (Mk 10:34).
The Time of His Return
Jesus said regarding the timing of His future return, “Be on guard. Be alert. You do not know when that
time will come.” (Mk 13:33).
"For this reason you also must be ready; for
the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” (Mat 24:44)
"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. "You too, be ready; for
the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." (Luk 12:39-40)
Just as there were the days of Moses, the days of Noah, and the days of Elijah, there will be
the days of the Son of Man, when Jesus returns. And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of
the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. "They will say to you, 'Look there! Look here!' Do not go away, and do not run after them. "For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will
the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in
the days of the Son of Man." (Luk 17:22-26).
The Millenium
Another time period
mentioned in the Scriptures, which is yet future and takes place on earth is called
"the thousand years." Since the word millenium means a thousand years, many people refer to this period as "The Millenium." It is spoken of in the prophets, as well as the book of Revelation.
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for
a thousand years. When
the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev 20:1-10)
As the Scripture says, Christ will reign during "the thousand years" period, and so shall the one who has part in the first resurrection. The Scripture speaks of "the thousand years" eventually being completed.
Opportunities to Serve and the Judgment Day
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| The Good Samaritan |
We all face the tyranny of the urgent in our lives each day. It could be a phone call or an errand. We are often distracted and detoured to the right or the left by the seemingly urgent, and skip what’s important to God. When we do so, we miss the Lord’s timing. Instead we need to avoid those distractions and give priority to what God is doing.
When do we do these things that are important to God? The righteous will ask this same question on the judgment day, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and cloth you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” They wanted to know the times when they had obeyed. Jesus replies, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:37-40).
Likewise, the wicked will ask Him when they had failed to do these things. He will tell them that whatever they did not do for the least of these brothers of His, they did not do for Him.
"Truly, truly, I say to you,
an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live…Do not marvel at this; for
an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth;
those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (Joh 5:25,28-29)
During our lives on earth, the Lord gives us opportunities to repent and opportunities to obey. There are
times of refreshing that come from the Lord’s presence when we repent and turn to the Lord. (Acts 3:19).
We as servants of the Lord must perform our duties at the proper time. And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper
time?" (Luk 12:42)
God's Set Schedule
Both dates and times are on God’s set schedule. Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, the apostles asked Him if He was at that time going to restore the kingdom to Israel. “Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know the
times or
dates the Father has set by His own authority.’” (Acts 1:6-7, NIV). In this verse, the word “times” is “kairos,” and the word “dates” is “chronos” meaning “a fixed or special occasion; or interval; an individual opportunity; season, space, time, while.”
We don’t usually get advance notice of when these things will happen. Yet in both our actions and our postponements, we may either obey or compromise. While it is not for us to know the times or dates the Father has set, we are still supposed to operate in the timing of the Lord, in step with the Lord, and in the peace of God. (Galatians 5:25).
The Age to Come
I have already mentioned that there are biblical references to
various dispensations on God's timeline. One of them that I did not yet
mention specifically is a future period, called "the renewal of all
things" or "the regeneration." In the account of the incident when His
disciples asked what their reward would be, since they had left
everything to follow Him, Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at
the renewal of all things,
when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed
me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or
mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred
times as much and will inherit eternal life." (Mt 19:28-29, NIV).
The
Greek word for "the renewal of all things" is "paliggenesia", meaning
"Rebirth (the state or the act), that is, (figuratively) spiritual
renovation; specifically Messianic restoration: - regeneration."
(Strongs). The New American Standard Bible and some other versions
translate this as "regeneration" in the verse above. The Lord said this
regeneration would occur "when the Son of Man sits on his glorious
throne." Luke's gospel records this same exchange between Jesus and His
disciples as follows:
And He said to them, "Truly I say
to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or
parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not
receive many times as much at this time and in
the age to come, eternal life." (Luk 18:29-30).
Here
in Luke's account, Jesus referred to "the renewal of all things" as
"the age to come". The word for “age” in this verse is “aion,” meaning
“perpetuity (also past); age, course, eternal, (for) ever, ever.”
(Strongs). In that "age to come", all things will be renewed for the
righteous, and we will inherit eternal life. As the Scripture says:
"Then I saw
a new heaven and a new earth; for
the first heaven and the first earth passed away,
and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for
her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold,
the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and
they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He
will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be
any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the
first things have passed away.' And He who sits on the throne said, '
Behold, I am making all things new.' And He said, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true.'" (Rev 21:1-5)
Therefore,
this renewal of all things is an age yet to come, when Jesus Christ
sits on His glorious throne. Our Lord and His Christ will reign forever
and ever, and His kingdom will have no end (Lk 1:33; Rev. 11:15; Exo.
15:18; Psa. 146:10; Mic. 4:7). How can we begin to grasp eternity or
measure it? In heaven there is no time, but rather ages. One age
follows another as God’s program unfolds and His kingdom is advanced,
and it goes on for eternity.
Every day that we are
given to remain alive on this earth is God's grace to us. It's another
opportunity to serve, another opportunity to repent, and another
opportunity to obey. Let's make the most of every opportunity with the
Lord's help, practicing righteousness, holiness, and truth, so that we
may dwell with Him throughout eternity. Jesus Christ is the one and only
Way to heaven. There is no other way but through Him.
Attribution notice:
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible,
New International Version® NIV®, "The Good Samaritan" by Dan Burr of
Dan Burr Illustration copyright 2013 used by permission. "Golden Grain Harvest" and "Seasonal Reflections" illustrations by my sixteen-year old daughter, C.V. Lacroix. You can find more of her artwork at
A Brush with Life. "Time is At Hand" and "All Hail King Jesus" paintings © 2012
Danny Hahlbohm, all rights reserved by the artist.
Author's note: If you enjoyed this article, I also recommend
Times ans Epochs the Father Has Determined,
The Kingdom of God as Revealed to James Agboola,
The Link Between Two Realms,
Michael Shigaba's End Time Message for Mankind,
Sequence of Signs Preceding the Coming of Christ,
Synching Up the Seven Seals with the Gospels Rapture Revelation to Angelica Zambrano,
The Kingdom of God is Like This,
Righteous Deeds and White Robes, and
The Judgment Seat of Christ. Other related articles are available on the
Home page. You may also access my complete blog
directory at "
Writing for the Master."
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you
repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible
says?
“Jesus
came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in
the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and
believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "
Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
_________________________________________________
Len Lacroix is the founder of
Doulos Missions International.
He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as
well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who
multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of
planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United
States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission.
www.dmiworld.org.
