Two days.
Two days was all I was going to have to wait. My wife and I had purchased a couple new bikes to give to our children for Easter, and I just couldn’t wait to give it to them. I wanted to give it to them on Good Friday. This was only about twenty minutes after I’d found the good deal on them and purchased them. My wife convinced me to wait—as she knew it’d be so much greater if we made a big deal out of it on Easter Sunday. I waited, but it just about killed me.
God has given to humanity an even greater present. (My, that is quite the understatement). And he gave it on Good Friday, but the whole thing wasn’t opened up until Resurrection Sunday. This gift changes everything.
I have to wonder if the Lord wanted to roll the whole thing out about five minutes after Adam and Eve fell into sin. I know He is brought to joy, along with the angels in heaven, when any sinner repents. Seeing humanity discover the wonder and glory of His Son has to give the Father smiles. This is a present he absolutely loves to give.
But he didn’t give it five minutes after Adam and Eve fell.
He waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Not with Noah.
Not with Abraham.
Not with Joseph.
Not with Moses.
Not with Joshua.
He waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Not with David.
Not with Solomon.
Not with any of the prophets.
Not with John the Baptist…
And then it was time.
It was time to unveil the greatest present he would ever give to humanity, His precious Son. It was a costly gift. But a gift which brought Him great joy to give. And He, being infinitely patient, waited for just the right time to reveal His Son and give us this gift.
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Here we are in a world with ISIS. A world with crazy politics. Broken marriages. Abortions. Christians being slaughtered. Injustice thriving.
We find ourselves saying, Come Lord Jesus, Come. Set all things right. Unveil your latest and greatest present—the return of Christ. Make all sad things be untrue. It’s time. Take us back to the Garden.
But he waits.
And he waits.
And he waits.
Why?
Because there is a right time, and not everyone has come to Christ yet. He won’t come back until every single one of His elect have come into the fold. Not a moment too soon. He won’t give an Easter present on Good Friday. He’s too patient.
And this patience, though at times painful, is to our greatest good and to His greatest glory.
Had it been me, I’d have probably waited all of five minutes after the Fall. And that would have been a great story and a great present—but not nearly as phenomenal as the one that is being told.
Hang in there. He not only gives great gifts…He gives them at the right time.
