The Right Time and the Right Place

        One of the Christmas Carols that is popular, at least among older folks, is the one entitled, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus."  Our bell choir performed this song at one of our more recent musical presentations.  Most of the carol is just five notes of music.  At one point, the sixth tone is added.  The words, however, remind us of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ  and they speak somewhat in a prophetical manner.  People were ready for the coming of the Messiah.  At least, some people were ready and the rest were left scratching their heads at what had happened.  Galatians 4:4 says, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,"  The Apostle Paul gives us a great statement, as all of his statements are great, but his one says that "at the fullness of time.."
      When things were just right, the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world and indwelt a fleshly body in order to accomplish the Plan of Salvation.  We might think that we are living in the best of times and that If Jesus had come today, He would have the benefits of technology.  He could communicate with every human being at once via satellite phone.  He could go from place to place quickly in a Boeing 747.  He would be able to have Public Relation people with Him to promote His visits and to stir up the crowds.  To God the Father, however, today is not the best of times.   When Jesus came to walk upon the face of the earth, times were right in every detail.  His coming was calculated from a certain event in the Old Testament.  The place was exactly where it was supposed to be.  The language used at that time was the one that would be able to express  His message to a lost and dying world.  After the first advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, there would come about His death on the cross at Calvary.  Prophecy after prophecy was being fulfilled even up to and including the account on the cross.  The manner in which He died would not be acceptable in the world today, but Christ, in His day was suspended between heaven and earth while paying the price for our sin.  The place, Jerusalem, was the center of the world.  It was the common point between East and West.  The news of the birth was overshadowed however in the resurrection that took place three days afterwards.  Satan had been defeated.  Truly, Christ came at the fullness of time.  God the Father had it all figured out.  Praise God today, that in this Christmas Season, we can trust Him with all of the details of our lives.