Living by FaithSample

The Lord’s Appointed Time

We live in world of fast food, high-speed internet, express deliveries and super-fast cars. Our culture is wired towards instant gratification. We expect things to happen immediately and get immensely frustrated when we have to wait. However this isn’t a problem only in our modern times. Even in the pre-industrial age of Habakkuk, we see impatience simmering at the brim. 

God announces to Habakkuk, that He will certainly deal with the Chaldeans for their wickedness. The judgement will surely happen and it will happen at the appointed hour that God has ordained. God knowing the weakness of men, exhorts Habakkuk to wait for it and informs it might be a while. However it will happen precisely when God deems it. 

There is coming a judgement day for all of humanity just as it did for the Chaldeans. God has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus whom He has appointed (Acts 17:31). There is no escaping this day. The wicked in this world might ridicule and continue in sin thinking God has forgotten about judgement. However the apostle Peter reminds us, “the Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (II Peter 3:9).” The day of judgement of sinners is certain, but till then God in His mercy offers the world an opportunity to be reconciled to Him. His arms are extended and He offers freely the gospel hope of forgiveness of sins for all who turn from sin and trust in Jesus. This repentance and trust is not a momentary decision, but one that is for all of life. Our lives are to constantly be in a state of repentance.