Just The Right Time

Did you ever wonder why you were born when you were, or born where you were? Why not 100 years ago? Why not 2,000 years ago? Why not in another land or country? Some people have the mistaken idea that they were born at the wrong time or wrong place, that they should have been born earlier, later, or somewhere else. 

The Apostle Paul tells the pagan intellectuals in Athens, Greece, that all the nations of the earth have had their beginnings and their endings, yes, even their geographical boundaries, predetermined by the plan and will of God. 

Acts 17:26 (NLT) 

From one man he [God] created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 

But what about the people inside those nations? That question comes when the Old Testament Jewish family of Mordecai and Esther lived in Persia. Esther’s Jewishness was a secret to King Xerxes of Persia at the time. King Xerxes unknowingly marries a Jewish bride and makes her the Queen of Persia (modern-day Iran) just before the King is deceived into issuing a decree of death to all the Jews living in the land. 

According to the Apostle Paul, the Kingdom of Persia was reigning in power at just the right time, God’s appointed time. According to Paul, the Jewish people were also living in exile at just the right time, by God’s appointed time. But what about Mordecai and Esther? What about individuals? Do people have an appointed time to be living on the earth? 

Esther 4:13-14 (NLT) 

13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 

14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” 

Yes, God had placed Mordecai and Esther inside of Persia at just the right time in human history. It was through Esther and Mordecai that God saved the Jews living in Persia from certain death. Is that an isolated case, or does this reveal the absolute sovereignty of God over nations and individuals? 

The Apostle Paul tells us that this divine sovereignty also applied to Jesus. Jesus came at just the right time in human history. 

Galatians 4:4 (NLT) 

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 

If the rise and fall of nations is determined by God. If the timing of the Messiah was determined by God. What about the apostles and what about the church? Were they chosen and appointed at just the right time by God? 

Titus 1:3 (NLT) 

3 And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him. 

Paul the messenger and the gospel message of Jesus were revealed to the people of earth, the nations, at just the right time by just the right person, while the just the right nation was in power on earth. 

So, what’s the point for us today? This is our appointed time in human history. We have the perfect message for the perfect time in human history. This is our time. Mordecai and Ester weren’t appointed for our time, we were. Peter and Paul weren’t appointed for our time; we were. 

This is our time, and the timing is perfect. The time is right for us to share the good news of Jesus. The time is now! Today is the day. 

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NLT) 

As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen, 

Terry Cooper 

Lead Minister