Accepting God’s Timing.

Written by Zach Roll

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

“He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8 English Standard Version 

When you wake up, maybe you turn on the news, read the paper, or maybe you log in to social media. It does not take long for us to see another report of some kind of attack, or tragedy, somewhere in the world. You start to hear more about, or read more about, (as well as people discussing) the end times and different prophesies in the Bible seemingly coming to a tipping point. A lot of Christians are pondering if Christ could be coming back soon.  It is difficult not to think about that scenario.

I choose this photo because you can practically see to the ends of the earth from the plains of Colorado, where I grew up.

However, right before Christ’s ascension, he spoke to his disciples about something that was important for them to hear, and for every follower of Christ thereafter as well. He declares to them clearly that it is not up for them to decide or to debate any of God’s timing, including the time of Christ’s return. It is by God’s authority alone that he has fixed the times and the seasons. Timing, on our human end, is not the issue. We know that when Christ ascended into heaven, he did not cease to be in control. Christ IS King, his reign is forever. He is telling us we need not worry about things that we cannot control, because even if we cannot see it, he has and always will be in control.

Let God worry about the time and season for when things are to come, and let us be occupied with Christ’s charge to us in verse 8. We are to be his witnesses throughout the world, telling of his resurrection and eternal reign! Don’t overthink things! Don’t get sidetracked, stay awake in your faith, telling of the good news of Christ’s sacrifice for the world and his never ending kingdom. Amen.