What time is it? Isn't it strange that we all have a strong desire to never get sick, never grow old and make special moments last forever. We are all captured and controlled by the thought of time, even when life takes a turn for painful dereliction. We all secretly desire ... Not to die... But if we must let it be peacefully, painlessly and possibly in our sleep.
Time rules men. Our ever expanding limitless universe is like a growing monster alarm clock. Between gravity and sight things change to remind us of the race from day break to dusk's dwindling light. We have approximately 12 hours where our senses are subjected ever changing light; but there is an eternal light that can bring constant value and connection within those hours, not to mention rest in the night season. Jesus is that light,but if a man walks without Him, walking in the night, the guaranty is that he will stumble ... and he will fall.
"If only Jesus was here" this would not have happened in that defining moment? DO WE TRULY REALIZE THAT: Time has no bearing on the rescue of God; He never misses His opportunity to love us. AND His intervention will be glorious. He knows our times and our seasons but is not threatened by the changes because HE CHANGES NOT!
But for us:
The call will come ... It will shake and shape our world ... It will challenge our light, and it will tug furiously to close the curtains, to limit the rays of hope and to glorify the chains of darkness. The hands of time will forcefully extend grief and press unfounded worry into our already weakened frames.
The call came two days earlier ..."These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth but I go that I may awake him out of sleep." John 11:11
Four days later ... "Jesus wept." He wept as he saw all the distorted dimensional crags and clefts of man's emotional hiding places. He wept .. But not because He was late with help as accused, but because of the inability of humanity in general to see that the Glory of God is not restrained by time and the measure of it. Jesus is eternally present... His "I AM" "Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already." John 11:17. (Seeing Him would bring the statement - "If you had been here this would not have happened.")
Understand this - In these moments of our potential deepest disconnect because of shock, grief, fear, and/or the feeling of personal abandonment ... HE places Himself "in the midst of the impact with us" in order to carry us to a place of greater security in faith. He does not "put us through hell to test our faith". Stuff happens because that is just the way it is on this side of Eternity's Veil and HE IS EVER PRESENT WITH US.
Time always limits the boundaries of our faith - prayerfully read the discourse between Martha and Jesus in John 11:21-27 -- See the weight of time on Martha's vision and how it stifled her expectations. Then embrace the pinnacle of the fulcrum of the conversation:
Jesus, "Do you believe Lazarus will rise?"
Martha, "Sure, he will rise in the Resurrection on the Last Day!"
Jesus, "I AM THE RESURRECTION!"
This encounter was going to be a violation of the sacred fences that had been planted long ago to bring be an anemic "hope" ally for our already fragile faith. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick:" Hope strung along, dragged along, delayed by "time" will chip away at the health of faith. Hope that desires Jesus will be a constant source of renewed life. "but when the Desire comes, it is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12.
Do you believe that you will be helped, delivered, rescued, or healed? Don't hang on to "when?"; desire "Him" ... Hear this -
"I AM the Help!"
"I AM the Deliverance!"
"I AM the Rescue!"
"I AM the Healing!"
What do we need in that moment of painful personal struggle?We need Him.
Rest, O my soul, He has this!
HLFA,
Jeff
John 11:40 - "Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, if thou wouldst believe, thou should see the glory of God?"
The "Glory" is the decision ... And He has decided to love you.
Trust that Love ... Not the measure of your ability to trust in time.