Perfect Timing

It’s been said that timing is everything. In a way, that’s true; timing is, at least, vital. Without proper timing everything else is worthless. What good is it to do the right things if it’s too early or too late? 

 Acts 1 records the final conversation Jesus had with His disciples before ascending to Heaven. They wanted to know when the restoration of Israel would take place, if He would do it now that He had risen from the tomb. He answered, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business.” (The Message).

Timing is always set by the one in authority. Students don’t decide when their assignments are due; the teacher does. The one convicted doesn’t get to decide when the prison term begins and ends; a judge does that.

Try going to your boss and telling them you expect something on your desk by a certain time. The boss welcomes your request for whatever you need to do your job, but they’ll decide when it’s delivered. And the boss gets to dictate to you when they expect you to accomplish a task. Timing is always in the hands of the one in authority. Therefore, God holds the timing of things in our lives. 

Returning to Acts 1, we see that God gave the disciples what they needed (the Holy Spirit), and instructed them that their job was to obey His instructions (wait in Jerusalem). That was, and still is, the arrangement of responsibilities: God handles the timing, and we obey His instructions. 

The challenge comes when our idea of timing differs from God’s. I should’ve been offered a job by now (my current situation; please pray for me)…I should be with my future spouse by now…God is late bringing a buyer for my house…My spouse and I need to conceive a child now.

I’m sure some of the disciples were tempted to get on with fulfilling the Great Commission, but if they’d moved forward without the Holy Spirit, their work would’ve been fruitless. The Holy Spirit is always needed to bring people to faith in Christ; it can be done without us, but never without Him. 

Likewise, it’s God’s Spirit who’s needed to meet our needs, and He always knows when the best time for it is. Timing is His business; our job is to be obedient and trust Him.

As long as we’re faithful with our job and trust God to do His, things will turn out. And with perfect timing.