The Fullness of Time

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son…” ~ Galatians 4:4 (ESV)

The delivery date of the most significant human ever born was right on schedule. It was calculated with precision, with purpose, and with perfection.

Under the inescapable inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul not only describes the birth of Jesus, but he highlights the fact that this was exactly the moment that God had intended for this birth to take place. “…when the fullness of time had come…” When the heavens could no longer contain the plans of God… when God’s design for the rescue of His people was launched from strategy to invasion… at exactly the right time…

Is it possible that this statement in Galatians 4 is intended to put to rest the worry that attracts my unsettled mind? Is it possible that the words of Galatians 4 are intended to leap off the page and embrace my soul… with confidence and hope? Is it possible that every anxious moment, every fretful delay, every unexpected event surrenders to the truth that Paul describes as “the fullness of time?”

Today, August 20, 2010 is eleven full days after the due date of our daughter Alli’s first baby. She’s in labor as I type.

Just yesterday I informed a friend that she was “over a week late.” But I was awakened this morning to the reality that our Father’s watch never runs slow… that He’s never late for an appointment, that He never oversleeps or reacts too quickly or scrambles to get something done… time, every second of every day, every day of every month, is His.

Babies are born in the fullness of time. The last breath of every creature is deployed in the fullness of time.

God Himself stands at the end of the phrase… “when the fullness of time had come, GOD…”; just as He stands at the end of every moment in our journey.

He’s not stuck in traffic.
He didn’t misplace His watch.
He hasn’t forgotten to adjust for daylight savings.
His batteries are fresh.
His wisdom is impeccable.

In the fullness of time… at St. Anthony’s Hospital in west Denver… a baby will be born. Not eleven days late, but right on schedule.

This reality extinguishes anxiety while it ignites hope.

Yes, my fourth grandchild will be born right on their due date…

Tagged as: time