Romans Part 3 - LIFESample

At The Right Time

Romans 5:6: “…at the right time …” “For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.”

The part of this verse that I find intriguing is “at the right time.”In the gospel of Mark, the first recorded words of Jesus are, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Do you ever wonder why that time in history was “the right time?”

It seems like such a primitive time. In comparison, today’s mass communication capabilities and social media would have gotten the message of the gospel out so much faster than teaching twelve men over three years' time. And yet, in the first chapter of Ephesians, as Paul lays out the basics of our redemption in Christ, he assures us that it was all done “according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (verse 11).

God’s ways are perfect, and so are His purposes and His counsel. The ‘right time,’ according to God’s calendar, may seem like an odd time to us, and yet, He has taken the gospel from those small beginnings in a primitive time to a worldwide movement that has continued to grow over two thousand years, in spite of all the things that have threatened it.

Jesus promised that HE would build His church, “and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Praise God for His “great and precious promises”! I am also thankful that we are, individually, pieces of that church, and as such, He is also “working all things according to the counsel of His will” in our individual lives. He has promised to “never leave us or forsake us.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Sometimes, we wonder about the timing of events in our lives, too. Recently, I visited an old college friend, catching up on some key events. Some of those events didn’t make sense to us at the time, and the Lord had to help us trust Him through it, in spite of the questions. Not until YEARS later did the reasons become clear! How incredible are His ways, His plans, and His purposes in our lives!

He is so good, and He keeps all His promises.

-Wendy York