“I have a neighbor,” Stan began on morning, “who I’ve been talking with for a long time about salvation, my faith, and Christianity.”
“Is he a believer?” I asked.
“Not yet,” Stan replied.
“Any particular reason?”
“He says it’s not a good time.”
“Not a good time? How could it not be a good time for anyone to come to faith?”
“He has all sorts of excuses,” Stan replied. “Too busy with his family; too busy with his career and where he wants to go with that; too busy planning for his retirement; lots of things.”
“But he listens to you when you share your faith?” I asked.
“He does. He says he’s interested, just not now. He says he will focus on that when the time is right.”
“Hope he doesn’t run out of time before he decides the time is right.”
“Me, too,” Stan replied. “And this whole thing about the right time raises all sorts of points for my faith walk.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Well,” Stan replied, “to start with, God the Father sent His Son Jesus into the world when the time was right. Additionally, Jesus went to the cross at the right time.”
“And,” he continued, “God awakened in me the desire to know Him when He knew the time was right for me to respond by choosing to draw near to Him. And then there’s the daily ‘right time’.”
“Daily right time? What’s that?”
“Each day, each hour, each minute,” Stan replied, “I am presented with choices about whether it’s the ‘right time’ to obey what God has for me to obey. And I can assure you that when those times come, it’s not the time for me to look at my watch to see if it’s a good time. Now, right away, is always a good time to obey!”
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Bible verses to consider:
But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4, 5.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6.
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:15.
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. John 15:10.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that at the right time you sent Jesus into the world. Thank you, too, that He went to the cross at the right time to provide salvation and redemption to all who believe. You brought me to the truth when you knew the time was right for me, and I thank you. You know how often I fail to obey you at the right time, which is at the moment. I confess that and ask for your forgiveness. Please help me in following your lead in obeying you at the time you want obedience, knowing that your time is always the right time. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you chosen the right time to accept God’s gracious and free gift of salvation and redemption through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? If not, why? Don’t run out of time before making that decision! If you have the assurance of salvation, how are you doing with the “right time” to obey what God has for you in this life? Do you agree that God’s “right time” is always right? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 