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He came when the Father said it was time!

“But when the fullness of the time was come,

God sent forth his Son …”

Galatians 4:4 KJV

What a fascinating phrase: “the fullness of time.” That’s when Jesus came.

Not ‘on time’ or ‘just in time’ or ‘in his time’ or even ‘when the time was right.’

The Amplified Bible’s rendering of that verse says that Jesus came into this world “when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come.” The fullness of time is not just about us and how desperately we needed a Savior. Instead, it’s a God-conceived plan, carried out according to his dictates and culminating at the perfect moment in time.

Although we see the first peek at the promise of Jesus’ coming way back in the third chapter of Genesis and verse fifteen, the breathtaking climax is still meticulously orchestrated in Luke 2 until the moment the Baby King who is to rule the world inhales his first breath of barnyard tainted air.

Watch with wonder as the final components of God’s eternal plan play out with precision in this exciting chapter. These phrases catch our attention:

– “decreed a census” A world ruler knowing nothing about the plan in God’s heart decides to do a head count.

– “required to return” Those being counted must be counted in the town of their ancestry … for Joseph this meant Bethlehem.

– “obviously pregnant” A difficult choice and arduous journey for this couple, but the coming Messiah is to be born in the town of Bethlehem. It had been foretold 700 years before!

– “the time came” Here it is. The culmination of the ‘fullness of time’ takes place exactly when and where and how God had planned it … right down to supporting cast. The angels are ready, the shepherds about to be terrified, then awestruck … wise men are studying the skies!

We’re not the only ones who love it when a plan comes together. So does God!

So what do we take away from this captivating story of God’s ‘on time’ arrival into a world that so desperately needs Him? It enables us to realize that God may just have some ‘fullness of time’ stories going on in our lives as well.

As we approach the start of another new year we can be sure that those dreams and promises that haven’t come to fruition yet … that have frustrated us in their elusiveness … that make waiting so tiring … are just waiting for God’s proper and perfect timing.

Allow God to reassure you with the words He spoke through Habakkuk to his people many years ago:

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!”

Habakkuk 2:3 Living Bible

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