The "Right Time"

Articles From Our Bulletins

Philip C. Strong
02/16/21 - Bulletin Articles

For what seems like most of my life, even when I did the “right thing” it was at the “wrong time.” Or conversely, even though it was the “right time,” I did the “wrong thing,” or at least failed to do the “right thing.” Can you relate?

But for at least once (surely there have been others, though it doesn’t usually feel that way), I did the “right thing” at the perfectly “right time.” I bought a new snow blower last week! For those of you who know about this staple of snow belt living, I purchased an old single-stage one that wouldn’t run a couple of years ago, and quickly got it running and working again, only to have it sit largely unused in the garage since then. But just last week, by chance I happened upon a “flash sale” and purchased a brand new two-stage blower at just 28% of its normal price. Then this week, the largest snowstorm in the 4.5 years we’ve lived here hit, with more on the way the rest of the week. For at least once in my life, I did the “right thing” at the “right time”! So, while out this morning clearing our and couple of elderly neighbor’s driveways, I got to thinking…

Biblically speaking, while there may not be a necessarily “wrong time” for the “right thing(s)” to be done, timing is nonetheless important. Even the “right thing” often has an optimal time to produce the greatest effect. Consider Romans 5:6 in these regards, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” While the answer to “What made 33 A.D. the ‘right time’?” may be somewhat elusive, speculative, and subjective, the Scripture is clear that it was nonetheless the “right time” according to God’s supreme and unquestionable wisdom. Hebrews 9:26 adds that it was “at the consummation of the ages,” and Galatians 4:4 includes that it was “the fullness of time.” 1Timothy 2:6 and Titus 1:3 augments that it was thus the “proper time,” and Ephesians 1:10 concludes that such was “suitable to the fullness of the times” to “the summing up of all things in Christ…” So Christ’s earthly arrival and subsequent death for our sins was timed perfectly. In the whole landscape of human history, He came at just the “right time” according to God’s “unsearchable” and “unfathomable” wisdom, cf. Romans 11:33.

But what does the NT say the “timing” of our responsive actions?

Ephesians 5:15-16, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” It is important to note that “our time” is unknown and unsecured, cf. James 4:13-17.

Colossians 4:5, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.” Our “opportunities,” like our “time,” has no guarantee.

Hebrews 3:15, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” The only “time” we have is now, right now in fact, for even the next moment is unsure.

Hebrews 3:13, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” There is, as we’ve often been told, “no time like the present,” and even whatever time we have is a present (a gift from God).

What have learned from these things? 1) Now is the “right time” to do the “right thing” regarding your salvation. 2) Everyday, as long as they last, is the “right time” to do the “right thing” of encouraging one another to faith and godliness. 3) While there may be an optimal time to do the “right thing,” we make the most of our time and opportunities by using them wisely. And finally, 4) Since “now” is all we have, it is the perfectly “right time” to do the “right thing(s)”! Is there some spiritual duty or obligation you’ve been putting off until you “had time”? Now is it. Don’t wait, do it today!