by David Scott Robertson
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"Are we there yet?" Any parent will tell you this familiar question from their child rates right up there with "What did you bring me?" or "Can I go, please, please, please?" Children are famous for their impatience. For them, instant gratification takes too long. Unfortunately, many children grow up to become adults who say the same things to God, albeit in more sophisticated language.
"How long, Lord, how long, before you come through on my prayer? I've done my part, now please do yours (ending the prayer "in Jesus' name," of course).
"Father, you know this is the desire of my heart; can't you make it happen?"
"Lord, I want your will in the matter but please, please, please let your will be that I can go!"
Adults are famous for their impatience. For many, instant gratification takes too long. We see it in biblical times and we see it in our time.
Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus
John 11:32 (NLT)
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell down at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
Mary basically is saying, "Jesus, you're a day late and a dollar short! If you had come when you were sent for we wouldn't be in this mess!"
JAIRUS, THE SYNOGOGUE RULER
Mark 5:35 (NLT)
While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus's home with the message, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."
The messengers basically were saying, "It's too late, now, Jairus. Your daughter has passed away. There's absolutely no use for Jesus to come to house now."
KING SAUL
1 Samuel 13:10-12 (NLT)
Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, [11] but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?"
Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. [12] So I said, 'The Philistines are ready to march against us, and I haven't even asked for the Lord's help!' So I felt obliged to offer the burnt offering myself before you came."
King Saul was basically saying to Samuel, the prophet of God: "Listen, Samuel, you're late! Since you didn't keep your word and show up when you said you would I felt 'led of the Spirit' to go ahead and offer up the burnt offering to encourage my soldiers. My army is down to about 600 men as it is!"
Two out of three of these stories had a happy ending. Jesus raised Mary's brother, Lazarus, from the dead as well as Jairus' daughter. King Saul, however, lost the kingdom through his impatience and disobedience.
The moral of this story is that whenever you are tempted to accuse God of dragging his feet, don't. Resist it. Take a thought like that captive. It is a lustful, carnal thought that does not come from God but from the evil one.
God is never late, ever. He knows exactly what He is doing and when is the best time to do it. God is not into "instant gratification" because it rarely benefits His children.
Psalm 84:11 (NLT)
For the Lord God is our light and protector.
He gives us grace and glory.
No good thing will the Lord withhold
from those who do what is right.
The Lord is not going to withhold anything from you that is good for you, including lessons, testing, and discipline.
Are you there yet? Have you come to the place in your walk with Christ that you trust Him enough to leave the timing issues in your life to Him without griping about it?
DSR
12/20/04