God’s Timetable

When you go to school, in high school, college or university – you are given a timetable. Certain classes are scheduled at certain times. The classes start on time. If you are late, you miss a part of the class. You cannot change the time. Also, when the course of study is over for one semester, there is an exam timetable. You cannot change that either. If you choose not to attend the exam at the time when it is scheduled, you will more than likely fail the course.

God is our teacher and He has a timetable. He has a certain time when He has scheduled a class with His students. He loves His students and calls them His children. “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18. Other places He calls His students brothers. “For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” Hebrews 2:11. Either way He loves them so much that He considers them family members. We have been adopted into the family of God. “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” James 2:5

There are two very specific times when God has scheduled a “class” with His “students.” Those two time slots are Sabbath morning (and sometimes Sabbath afternoon) and Wednesday evening, for prayer meeting. Sometimes in between there may be unscheduled classes or special activities. There are public awareness events (Missionary work) and social events (church outings in nature). It is our choice to attend these extra functions. They are not mandatory, however they are all beneficial for our success.

Just as in a university class, not everyone turns out to every class, so also in God’s class; people are late or they simply skip the classroom. It makes Jesus a bit sad because He has so much that He wants to teach His students, yet some simply don’t show much interest.

If we are studying Biology at school and choose to go to a math classroom, that won’t help us much when it is time to write the Biology exam. Similarly, if we are studying the truths in God’s church, but choose to attend a different “classroom” – from a different church, where they only teach partial truth, we may fail when exam time comes (which is the judgement at the end of the world) simply because we have not received the appropriate instructions and teachings.
Those “classroom” times are not the only times our Father wants to teach us something. When we go to school, there are formal set times in our timetable for instruction, however in the evenings and weekends we take time to review or study more on the subject and to do our homework in order to keep up with the studies at school. Without taking time for homework, we will not do well in our studies at school. Our Heavenly Father also expects us to do homework, extra study (at the very least, morning and evening worship but preferably more) on our own time if we are to do well in our formal studies when we meet together at church.

The exam time at the end of the semester is like the judgement day. Can you change the date? Can you arrive late? Can you decide on the date? No, those in authority set the date and you have to be there on time at the required place or you will fail the exam. God has His exam time also. It is called the Investigative Judgement. It is going on right now in heaven. Some day soon your name will be brought up… at the right time… according to God’s timetable. If you have not taken advantage of the instruction in the past, you may not pass the course.

You must be able to use the knowledge that has been taught, in the future at your employment, without your textbooks. So also, we will not always have our Bibles with us. In fact, we are told, there will be a time when we may have to answer for our faith before the kings of this earth and without having our Bibles with us. We may also meet someone on the street who asks us a religious question and if we have done our study ahead of time, we will have a ready answer for them.

In History, God has always had a timetable. There was a timetable before the flood. The people living at that time were given 120 years to make a decision for the Lord. Not one day more. When the door to the ark was closed, it was too late.

Israel was to remain in captivity 70 years… then it was time to return home.

Jesus came to earth at the specified time. The Jews were fully aware that it was time for the Messiah to appear when He did come. The timetable was recorded in the Old Testament.

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Gal. 4:4
Many prophecies were given in the Bible and most of them have been fulfilled according to the time specified.

WAIT

Don’t plan your own timetable. Wait for God to reveal His timetable to you. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14.

Jesus said, “Follow Me.” However some want to run ahead of God.
“God is leading out a people, not a few separate individuals here and there, one believing this thing, another that. Angels of God are doing the work committed to their trust. The third angel is leading out and purifying a people, and they should move with him unitedly. Some run ahead of the angels that are leading this people; but they have to retrace every step, and meekly follow no faster than the angels lead. I saw that the angels of God would lead His people no faster than they could receive and act upon the important truths that are communicated to them. But some restless spirits do not more than half do up their work. As the angel leads them, they get in haste for something new, and rush on without divine guidance, and thus bring confusion and discord into the ranks. They do not speak or act in harmony with the body. I saw that you both must speedily be brought where you are willing to be led, instead of desiring to lead, or Satan will step in and lead you in his way, to follow his counsel. Some look at your set notions, and consider them an evidence of humility. They are deceived. You both are making work for repentance.” 1T 207

“To Peter the words ‘Follow Me’ were full of instruction. Not only for his death, but for every step of his life, was the lesson given. Hitherto Peter had been inclined to act independently. He had tried to plan for the work of God, instead of waiting to follow out God’s plan. But he could gain nothing by rushing on before the Lord. Jesus bids him, ‘Follow Me.’ Do not run ahead of Me. Then you will not have the hosts of Satan to meet alone. Let Me go before you, and you will not be overcome by the enemy.” DA 816

DAVID’S EXAMPLE

King David is a good example of someone who waited according to the Lord’s timetable. He waited to be crowned king in the Lord’s time. His men tried to urge him to take King Saul’s life early, when he had an opportunity, but he decided to wait foGod’s time. “Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The LORD forbid that Ishould stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.” 1 Samuel 26:8-11

Sometimes unconverted ministers are left in leading positions as was King Saul, and it has caused distress amongst God’s people. “We have been inclined to think that where there are no faithful ministers there can be no true Christians, but this is not the case. God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor.” 5T 79. The unfaithful ministers are not to be left in position, however they need to be removed according to the time God specifies.

Jacob was the opposite to King David. He didn’t wait for the Lord, but went ahead with his desire to have the birthright. Running ahead of the Lord cost him much grief for the rest of his life. Had he waited for the Lord, what a different life he would have lived.

GOD HAS A SPECIFIC TIME FOR EVERYTHING

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Eccl 3:1-8

WHAT IS GOD’S PERSONAL TIMETABLE FOR YOU?

Ask Him.
Your personal life:
God has a timetable for your personal life – how long will you live? If you choose not to take your life early by some foolish habits or suicide, God has His timetable for you. When there is an earthquake, or plane crash, why do some perish and some survive? Only God knows.

Then there is God’s time versus our time. What do we consider God’s time and what do we consider ours? Is God’s time only the Sabbath? We do our duty in keeping the Sabbath for God and the rest of the week is for us to do as we please? Oh, we may add a quick morning and evening worship for God also, but the rest is for us to do what we want to do. Often, after our working day we say that the rest of the hours of the day are for our own time – is this true? We will be judged more heavily regarding those leisure hours that we wasted. All hours are God’s hours. “Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time.” COL 342. It doesn’t mean we are engaging in missionary activities or Bible studies 24/7, however when we do our jobs or engage in recreation, it is all for the glory of God. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31
How much time do we have to live? God’s says, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Mat 24:44. When is He coming for YOU?

Who knows when we will breathe our last? “The Lord could, by neglecting man, stop his breath at once. All that he is and all that he has pertains to God.” Faith and Works page 22

Your material goods:
As we near the close of this earth’s history, there will come a time when we need to sell our properties and our lands. When will that be? We don’t know exactly, but God knows and we need to ask Him.

“Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and at that time their possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the cause of present truth. . .

“I saw that if any held on to their property and did not inquire of the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. . . But if they desired to be taught, He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how much to sell.” EW 57

Are you asking God daily, when it is time for you to sell?

SOMETIMES, GOD, IN MERCY, WILL DELAY HIS TIME

“Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith, and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward.” 1SM 68

TIMETABLE FOR THE WORLD

The longest prophetic time was the 2,300 days, extending to 1844. After that we are living on what has been called borrowed time.

How much more time do we have to live on this world? Do we have just an unspecified amount of time and one day when God feels all is in readiness, He will come?

He knows, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36. He simply has chosen not to reveal to us the exact day. He did, however, give us signs to let us know that the end of the world is near – and you can read those in Matthew 24.

How long will He wait? Only God knows. He has His timetable for the world. When the fullness of the time is come, He will come back to the earth and destroy the wicked, taking the righteous to heaven. May we be on the Lord’s side when He does come. We are living in a time that is called, the tarrying time, how long until that tarrying is over? Only God knows.

If we want to be ready when the timetable is complete, we must be faithfully following God’s timetable today, preparing for the exams. We will then receive our reward on graduation day, when Jesus comes in the clouds of glory. It is my wish and prayer that each one of us will graduate with honours so we can meet for a reunion at the great table in heaven at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
AMEN

Wendy Eaton, Australia

Here is a song that I want to share:

Still Time
There’s still time for you to come
For the Lord is calling you home
Do not delay; and wait another day
For tomorrow may just be too late.
O the world will pass away
Sinner come to Jesus and pray
He wants your heart; new life to you impart
Why will you reject all of His love?
But thetime is very near
When the Lord from heaven will appear
It’s then too late for you have sealed your fate
By rejecting His pleading today.
The Lord is calling; His voice is so clear
If you will not listen, It will be silent to your ear