A Divine Schedule

One of the important points in the path of decision making is knowing what to do and when to do it. Doing the right thing at the wrong time or doing the wrong thing at the right time equally have devastating outcomes.

You might have noticed that, several times in the Scriptures, certain events are mentioned concerning time. The ascribed time may not always be fixed or cyclical, it may just be a reference point or frame.

[14] Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
[15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:14-15 (KJV)

The current emphasis is in verse 15. The time is fulfilled. This is a message to broadly three groups of people:

First, those who have been expectant; Those who have been looking forward to the coming of the Kingdom of God. Those who have been dissatisfied with the current state of things and have held out hope for the fulfillment of the promises and prophesies made to the Fathers (and by, extension to them). To them, the scriptures says, The time is fulfilled.

The Second group are the opposition; Those currently running counter to the advances of the Kingdom. Those who do not have any affinity for or expectation of the kingdom. Those who have chartered a different course alien to the promises and purposes of God. Those that have gone their own way, and have thereby gone astray.

(For it is true that when a man goes his own way, it generally leads him away from God.)

The third group of people are seemingly uninterested; Those who think that if they ignore the whole idea, then it would have no implications for them. These ‘gentiles’ of our times have made new gods or have made themselves into gods. To them, the message is still the same, The time is fulfilled.

So we see that a certain time has been accomplished. The Kingdom of God has been brought into sharp and direct focus. If this is the time, what does it demand?

Repent ye and believe the gospel.

We are in the time promised to the fathers and prophesied through the Holy men of Old. A recognition of this time demands an appropriate response.

It demands that we turn around, change our minds and set our hearts upon the Gospel. This is the appropriate response. This is the acceptable response. Repentance and belief in the Gospel is the response to the Kingdom Call. The time is fulfilled. The next time to be fulfilled may be too late for this demand.

So, even for your own life, for the time that is fulfilled – the time that is upon you – what does it require of you? What will you do? What is the appropriate response?

Do not say in your heart, “It is not yet time.”