There is always a “set time”, an “appointed time” of our Father God when He fulfills the word He has given. The creative word of God will not return to Him void: Isaiah 55:11 declares, “So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Do not allow discouragement over an unfulfilled word to take root in your heart. Keep looking up to Jesus, keep a thankful heart that our Father holds the whole world in His very capable hands, and in the fullness of His time, His word will surely come to pass. The time lapse between God’s quickened word to us, and its fulfillment, is the trial of our faith where we believe what God has said and learn to trust Him, surrendering all that would oppose that word, (my unbelief) and enter into His rest. God’s word fulfills itself and does not require my efforts to help it along – remember the account of Abraham and Ishmael!
Ezekiel 12:21-28 These verses record the Lord using the prophet Ezekiel to warn the people who have become despondent over the passage of time and unfulfilled visions. In verse 23 the Lord declares “….The days are at hand and the effect of every vision.” Continuing in verses 27-28 “….they of the House of Israel say, The vision that he sees is for many days to come……and of times that are far off……Thus says the Lord God: there shall none of my words be prolonged anymore, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, says the Lord God.”
Let us be encouraged that the vision the Lord has given us will NOT be prolonged any more. We are being ushered into a new dispensation in divine purpose. As the season takes its turn, change will surely come. There will always be scoffers used of the devil to discourage. 2 Peter 3:3-4 “…There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” Let us not entertain this line of thought and be willingly ignorant of what God has declared.
Some may be concerned regarding the wickedness that is prevalent in society, some are fearful of what the future holds in the “end times.” Be encouraged: We are “ISraelites”, we live in the “IS” of God. God is the great “I AM”. There is no fear when I live and rest in the “IS” of God. I am fully protected from all harm, (Psalm 91), and the Lord provides sufficient grace for me for this day. I am not required to live in the past, nor to be alarmed regarding the future. That is in God’s hands. I am only required to live THIS day, and He has declared in His word that His grace IS sufficient for me, whatever today holds, or future days ahead.
The governments and politicians think they are in control of their little kingdoms, but God is in command of this planet. Isaiah prophesied of Jesus, “…the government shall be upon his shoulder…”, Isaiah 9:6-7.
God is using our circumstances to teach us to trust and lean on Him. There is a “rest” for the people of God, (Hebrews 4), to be entered into where our hearts will be at peace, even amidst crises. Will we be part of God’s plan to be a people divinely prepared and placed among the coming calamities that will affect our nations, demonstrating the resurrected life of Jesus, at peace amid turmoil, carrying the rest of God’s presence? What a witness that will be, when men’s hearts fail them due to fear, the life of the risen Christ in us can stand firm, a signpost to all onlookers to His Cross. Our Lord Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the boat amidst the storm, while the disciples panicked in fear. Jesus commanded the storm to be stilled and His disciples were amazed that the wind and sea obeyed Him. Jesus was at rest in “The Shaker,” His Father.
God is about to shake everything on this planet that can be shaken. Our only safety is in the Shaker, just like Jesus in the boat. We may be misjudged at first as being negligent. While others are fearful and panicking, we can be at peace. It is not negligence but a confidence and trust in God’s control of all things, which brings His rest and quietens our hearts.
1 John 4:17-18 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement, because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…”
The words of the old hymn penned by E.A. Hoffman stand true through the passages of time:
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms,
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Chorus: Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarm,
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms,
Oh how bright the path grows from day to day
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms,
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What a word of encouragement and timely as well. Thank you for being obedient to Father.