The Bible says that when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son. Galatians 4:4
There was a ‘time’ which God had appointed to send Jesus Christ into the world. Jesus could not be sent into the world until that time was just right.
Scholars note how there were many things in place, when Jesus arrived, that enabled the apostles to spread the good news throughout the world within a few short years.
God has appointed a time when you and I will die. Job 14:5 tells us that our days are determined.
God has appointed a time for His return to rapture His true believers out of this world: a time that only His Father knows. Matthew 24:36
God has appointed a time to cast the devil into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 12:12 & 20:3.
God has appointed a time when the fullness of the Gentiles is fulfilled and Israel believes in Christ as their Messiah. Romans 11:25
God has appointed a time when this earth will be changed into a New Earth filled with the righteousness and truth of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Romans 8:22, & Revelation 21:1.
Have you ever wondered why you were born when you were born? Why weren’t you born in another era of time, to another set of parents, in another part of the world? God has chosen the time, the place, and the parents, for it is He who gives us life and it is He who forms our parts in our mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13.
He even has the number of hairs accounted for on our heads. Matthew 10:30.
This is why we can trust that He is taking care of us and providing what we need in this life, as we yield our will to His. Matthew 6:25-34.
Leaves of the tree pointing to Resurrection
Easter is all about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave to give us eternal life.
I Corinthians chapter fifteen gives us the Gospel, or good news, in a concise format. Try reading it through several times, slowly, aloud, and you can’t help but feel the power of the Holy Spirit-inspired Words as they lift off the pages of the Bible right into your heart and soul!
Conditions for leaves to survive and resurrect
When temperatures drop, and water supply diminishes, and the nights get longer, the leaves on the trees go dormant. The trees make a hard, dormant bud to protect the growing tissues underneath from foul weather.
While they are dormant, the growing tissues are alert to signs of the night shortening, and the days lengthening, and the water source growing more abundant, and the temperatures rising, so they can be ready to burst forth again into new life.
It takes the cold, the lack of moisture, and the lack of light for the trees to dry up the leaves, causing them to change into beautiful colors for our Fall seasons, and then to protect the life within the tree from the harsh elements of weather.
It takes the warmer temperatures, the abundance of spring rains, and the longer hours of daylight to enable the trees to soften the hardened buds protecting the living tissues underneath to sprout into new leaves, providing yet another beauty, and shade for us during the spring and summer months.
There is ‘timing’ to this whole process. If the cold nights are not enough in number, then the trees become confused and try to bring forth new leaves before the warm weather is sufficient to support them. The tree can end up dying instead of producing new color and new life.
Lessons from Lazarus being Resurrected
Jesus loved Lazarus, yet when He received the message that Lazarus was sick, he tarried two more days before returning to Bethany. When He arrived in Bethany, Lazarus was already dead, and had been dead for four days. Scripture does not tell us how far away Jesus was when He received the message that Lazarus was ill. His response to the messengers was that this illness is not unto death, but to show the Glory of God. Then He tarried two more days until Lazarus died, telling His disciples that Lazarus was sleeping, meaning Lazarus had died. Then He took the disciples, leading them back to Bethany. When He arrived, He was told that Lazarus had been dead for four days already.
Several things stand out from this story.
- Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Lazarus was a brother to Mary and Martha.
- Jesus could have prayed from where He was when He received the Word of Lazarus’ illness.
- Jesus, as God in the flesh, knew when Lazarus became sick.
- Jesus purposely waited until Lazarus died before starting to go back to Bethany.
- Jesus told His disciples this sickness would not end in death.
- Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus was sleeping, and later that Lazarus was dead.
- Jesus stated that this was to show the Glory of the Father.
It is interesting to note that the Jews believed that the soul of a dead person tarried around the body for three days. Jesus, tarrying until Lazarus had been dead for four days, made sure that his soul had moved on to God who gave it. In other words, no one could say that Lazarus was not fully dead yet. Even Martha said, “Lord by this time he stinks.” John 11:39
Jesus showed us the Power of His Resurrection in raising Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus showed us there is not only a time to die, but there is a time to be resurrected back to life.
Jesus showed us that it sometimes takes suffering, sickness, illness, disease, and death to produce the new leaves on our souls as trees of righteousness. Isaiah 61:3
Jesus showed us that some prayers, even if they are prayed in sincerity, will not be answered, because He has a greater plan to show the Father’s Power and Love.
Jesus showed us that all things end in everlasting life for those who believe in Him.
Jesus showed that the power of darkness, and long nights of winter, could not snuff out the life that is in the soul, even in the coldness of death.
Jesus showed that with His Living Water, with His Living Word, with His Living Spirit, with His Living Light, with His Living Energy of Love, that the hardness that surrounds the heart of man can be enticed to open into New Life and into a New Creature that will bring beauty, pleasure, comfort, and Glory to Him and those around us.
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.” Isaiah 61:3
- Jesus arrived in Bethlehem in the fullness of time.
- He raised Lazarus from the dead in the fullness of time.
- He resurrected from the Grave in the fullness of time.
- He will return for His Bride in the fullness of time.
- He will restore Israel to her glory, fulfilling His promise to Abraham, in the fullness of time.
- He will cast the devil into the Lake of Fire in the fullness of time.
- He will restore the heavens and the earth to its purity and newness in the fullness of time.
- He will allow the circumstances of life to take their toll on your soul until the fullness of time.
- He will allow your body to become sick unto death in the fullness of time.
- He will heal and resurrect your body in the fullness of time.
- He will give you full understanding of it all in the fullness of time, as you stand before Him in your resurrected and glorified body like unto His. Now we see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know as I am known. I Corinthians 13:12
His Resurrection of all things earthly and spiritual will take place in His perfect timing.
The Terrorists of radical Islam, the fading of America as a world power, the battles over Israel, and even Armageddon will all be taken care of in His perfect fullness of time.
This Easter, give thanks to your Heavenly Father and celebrate the fullness of time in your life!