Have you ever known something will happen, but not had the exact details of it? It’s somewhat the same with Christ’s return for us, we know it is looming but we don’t have a concrete date. This is something for us to reflect on as we consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Matthew 24:36 NIV
[36] “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
No One Knows
Siblings, we’ve read of others being annoyed with Y’shua, to the extent that they wanted Him dead … but His time has not yet come. From such incidents and our Nougat, we may conclude that YHWH operates with very precise timing. Yet, YHWH doesn’t always reveal the full details of the date and time for what God is doing. That may be due to YHWH’s timing being different from ours, ‘a thousand years in our human time is like a day’, or simply that YHWH gives us enough information to mobilise us for a task so that we operate in faith. After all, we live by faith and not always in the concrete and provable.
Ironically, the dearth of exact data has been a stumbling block for some who need concrete facts with which to work. Some have even interpreted YHWH’s ‘delays’ as proof that YHWH doesn’t exist. But what if the delay was actually YHWH’s provision for us so that we might not perish?
Self-Check
How do we respond to YHWH’s timing, especially Christ’s return?
Application
It’s worth remembering that at the time Y’shua shared these details, He Himself had not yet been crucified. If we use the analogy of a football match, or most athletic activities, we realise that sometimes it is hard to exactly determine how long a competition will last. Officially, a football match is scheduled for 90 minutes. For the most part, the timing of the first half of the match is set … it’s 45 minutes. This is easy to establish, as even equal number of goals does not mean things will remain the same. It’s still anybody’s game.
Before Y’shua’s crucifixion, we were in the first half of a divine salvific match. YHWH’s team seemed to be losing, despite what was said to the contrary by Y’shua and the prophets. But, with His death, there was the halftime break, and His resurrection and ascension set the match. The enemy of our souls is still out on the field, attempting to score as many goals as possible by claiming souls.
In human football, at the end of the 90 minutes, i.e., the second half, it is not uncommon for the score to be tied. Both teams scored the same number of goals. In those instances, the match may go into overtime, and there are rules of engagement on how the winner is determined at that point, often through penalty kicks. To my knowledge, there is a maximum time for the penalty playoffs, but no one knows for certain when that winning goal will be scored.
In this divine match, we already know that YHWH has won, but in terms of the number of lives saved, that is probably what the overtime penalty kick-off is about. Hence, the day and time of Christ’s return can’t exactly be pinned down. We have the signs that tell us Who’s won, and that the victory is almost in our grasp. But, the exact moment is not yet.
I, for one, am thankful that God’s grace allows for the extra time, which allows others time (hopefully) to accept God’s marvellous offer of salvation.
Point to Ponder
What if YHWH hadn’t allowed grace, which qualifies us to be included in the life to come? Let’s continue to prepare patiently for Christ’s return.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
