The Fullness of Time
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. –
Galatians 4:4-5 NASB
I don’t know any details of God that He hasn’t shared with everyone but I take the clause here “… in the fullness of the time ….” to apply to history.
Jesus was born when God, the Father, planned; not before, not after; His birth wasn’t hastened or postponed by anything.
He came into a world that had a reasonable level of peace. There were no wars at that time in Israel because it was under control of the Roman empire. The common language of the time was Greek.
Although those are facts about the time into which Jesus was born they don’t necessarily explain why that was the time and not some other. God, the Father, keeps His own counsel about times (Matt 24:36 and Mark 13:32 – “… no one knows … but the Father alone.”)
What we do know is that God has a plan and that His plan isn’t disrupted or disorganized. We can join in and be blessed to be a part of it or we can refuse to surrender to God’s will and miss out on the joy that comes from seeking to bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ. Either way, God’s plan isn’t affected by one second with our without us. We’re the ones affected by either worshiping God as we take a place that He makes for us in His will or stubbornly missing the joy of working under the direction and blessing of Jehovah God of Abraham.
Sometimes it’s very challenging for us to try to wrap our minds around suffering we see and wonder how a loving or even a good God could withhold His interaction. Peter wrote:
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 NASB
We may not understand the pain we see around us but we would do well to remember that death and destruction come as the result of sin (James 1:14-15) while every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). We deserve the destruction that sin brings but God gives us mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ because He loves us.
To take the greatest advantage of God’s mercy let’s look at another statement God makes about how He views time:
Behold … now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV
If you don’t yet have a relationship with God that acknowledges His perfection and holiness versus our sinfulness then it’s an easy step. You simply talk to Him.
God, I know I’m not like You even though I’m made in Your image.
I’m not perfect like You.
I’m rebellious in my heart. I don’t like someone else being in control or anyone else being better than me but I need You. I need you because I cannot keep trying to be the god of my life.
Forgive me, God. I want You to live in my heart.
I want a relationship with you that’s based on Jesus’ sacrifice.
Be my God, be my Lord. Set me free, God.
Salvation comes through Jesus only. As Peter testified,
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12 NASB