The time of visitation - trapped between stops
Posted on November 11th, 2023 by RedeemedLuke 19:41-44 NLT
But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. [42] "How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. [43] Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. [44] They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you."
Life comes in stages. With every stage comes something new, taking us closer to fulfilling our purpose.
As we advance from one phase to another, we must also recognize that it is not by power or might but by the Spirit of the LORD. Ecclesiastics phrase it as time and chance happening to all things. (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
Isreal in the opening scripture, did not recognize the time of her visitation, a time when God extended mercy and grace to her.
When we accept the mercies and grace offered us by God, we would have escaped the judgement of God. A rejection of the offer of mercy is also calling for the just punishment of God.
Actions when fully matured will always deliver a harvest to the sower. We reap as we have sowed. We can never escape the reaping if we have sowed. In thesame vain, there’s nothing to reap if we have not sowed. Life therefore ensures a balance in all things.
Time and chance happening to all things infers that there is a time of reckoning for everyone. When deeds will be rewarded or iniquity will be punished. A time when the waiting is over for those that are waiting.
At the time of one’s visitation what state will we be found? Waiting or have flowed with the crowd? Did we take God’s grace for granted and assume it will always be like before? Are we living as we like and damn the consequences believing we have always succeeded and will always succeed?
There’s always a time of visitation for everyone. Are we prepared for it?
For the believers, the account of the ten virgins is a stark reminder that even when the waiting is long, it will come to an end one day.
Matthew 25:1-5 NLT
"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. [3] The five who were foolish didn't take enough olive oil for their lamps, [4] but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. [5] When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
The lamps for the believers must be burning. For the long wait, we need extra oil stored in jars so we can have the guidance and endurance needed to be where we were supposed to be. The foolish virgins didn’t think to bring with them extra oil and when they noticed their lamp was flickering and almost quenched they went looking for oil. Unfortunately, that was when the bridegroom arrived. They were caught out of their stop, and were neither here nor there.
Recently, I saw how dreadful it is to be neither here nor there - caught between stops. The LORD showed me that when He says to wait, we either wait or we will miss out completely. When the train or bus arrives a station, it picks those who are ready and proceed to the next stop. If you happen to be away from the stop, you will have to have enough speed to meet up with the bus or train in the next stop, because it waits for no one.
The waiting period is a very dangerous time, when if you’re not careful and watchful, you can miss the time of your visitation. There will be many distractions, all with one singular assignment which is to ensure you miss the time of your visitation.
There will be many advisers who will tell you what to do and how to do it, even when they themselves haven’t been in such situations or circumstances. They will talk you out of your assignment if you allow them.
In jobs trials, his friends who where supposed to offer encouragement, were at the forefront of those who threw all manner of words at him in the name of advising him. Job’s friends could not see the hand of God in permitting the adversary to persecute Job.
The LORD was very angry with them, and they could only escape the just judgement of God on them only if Job prayed for them.
Many of us today are in one trouble or other because of the role we have played in destroying or bringing untold hardship to others. We will only have relief when we have asked forgiveness from those we tried to destroyed.
What about the account of Noah? As he built the Ark God commanded him to build, and the rain that would destroy the earth was prolonged to erupt on the earth; for God waited for him to complete the Ark and every animal God commanded to come to him to be preserved was secured in Noah’s ark.
As I read, the account of Noah, I realized how merciful God truly is. Though the world’s time for its visitation has come, God made a way of escape. Even Noah’s family has to believe that God has spoken to him, and must enter the Ark to be saved.
Noah’s purpose was therefore to preserve the lives that God had entrusted to him. As long as they came to Noah, he has to be responsible for them as long as they were in the Ark with him!
Who has God brought under your care? Are you caring for the sheep under your care or are you exploiting them?
In my mind, I can see Noah; burdened with the responsibility of fulfilling God’s purpose. Am sure they must have thought him mad, mocked him and called him all manner of names, but he had the Word of God and that was all he needed.
Genesis 6:18-21 Voice
But I will make a pact with you, Noah-a covenant agreement. To survive, you and your family-you, your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives-must go into the ark. [19] And, out of all the living creatures I have made, you must bring two of each kind into the ark with you, to keep them alive. Bring one male and one female of each kind. [20] Bring all kinds of birds, all sorts of animals, and all varieties of creatures that creep on the ground in pairs, so that each species will survive. [21] Also, you must bring food with you. Bring every kind of food that may be eaten, and store it all inside the ark. That way, you and all of the creatures will have enough food to eat.
As long as we have the WORD we can press on, unafraid because He who has called is Faithful.
Noah had the WORD and he pressed on even when no one believed him. He kept building until it was time to enter the Ark. By faith, Noah and his family and all the animals were spared.
Another person that comes to mind is Lot. The LORD had determined to see what was going on in Sodom and Gomorrah by virtue of the cry that rose up to God for vengeance from the land of Sodom and Gomorrah.
And Abraham decided to intercede on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah when God confided in Him that He was going to destroy the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah and the LORD agreed to spare the land if He found five righteous men in the Land.
Unfortunately, five righteous men were not found in the land. The Lord dealt kindly with Lot for the sake of Abraham, and had to lead them out of Sodom because they were feet dragging.
As they fled the city, Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt, trapped between stops and frozen in the space of time.
Life is fleeting, and no one has control even over their own lives, though most times we think we do. Sleeping and waking seems very simple but are we able to control that?
Try not to sleep for a few days and see what happens to you! This moment we have, the next we are not sure but God’s Word endures forever.
As you read this, think about friends and family that have gone. They never planned to leave, life happened and they were gone.
If you will you can say a simple prayer of faith acknowledging and accepting the mercies and grace of God through Jesus.
Scriptures says, with the heart we believe, and with our mouth we confess that Jesus is Lord. (Roman 10:10).
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Gods bless.
Peace.
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