April 2: GOD’S TRUTH, TIMING, AND FULFILLMENT

Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14

Abraham is called a friend of God (James 2:23 – see also 2 Chronicles 20:7). His relationship with God was one of trust and belief. But Abraham would stumble along the way, and God had lessons for him to learn. Twice, he lied about the identity of Sarah, saying she was his sister, to protect himself (Genesis 12:13 & 20:2). The misrepresentation (a half-truth is a whole lie) not only put Sarah in harm’s way, it was conceived based on the assumption that Pharoah – and later Abimelech – would kill him in order to take Sarah for themselves. In both instances, God intervened on behalf of Sarah and both of the kings (12:19; 20:6). God was dealing patiently with Abraham. But more tests were ahead...

Only a few generations had been born since the scattering from Babel. Abram’s birth was 292 years after the flood. In that brief time, polygamy had become so widely accepted that the idea of it as a sin had been all but snuffed out. When Sarai proposed to Abram that he take her handmaiden Hagar as a wife (16:2), he did not question it, but went along. However, this was directly against the will of God regarding marriage, established at the beginning in Eden. Although Abraham did not question God’s promise of a son and heir (15:4), he did not wait for God’s timing. It seemed that Sarai’s idea would help in the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Can anyone doubt that the repercussions of this decision continue to this day? Yet God forgave Abraham and continued to guide his life. He also regarded Hagar and counseled her (16:7-14).

During His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke these words: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:16-18)

Jesus fulfilled the Law, and His followers are enabled to do the same by the power of His Spirit in them. Though His second coming will be according to His perfect timing, it is often perceived that He is delaying. The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25) indicates that half of His professed followers lack the Holy Spirit, and all of them are slumbering in the last days (vv.3-5) just before His return. To take the warning seriously is to wake up and endeavor to obey all that we understand of His Word. Obedience begets increased understanding. In a confused world, this is the best representation of His character: His life in us by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power. The path of obedience to all of God’s law may not be the easiest path, but it is the surest way to truly demonstrate love for God and others.

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:10-12

How does the breaking of any of God’s laws dishonor Him and harm my neighbor?  For further study: Isaiah 40:31; 58:12; Matthew 7:12; 22:36-40; John 6:63; 14:15; Romans 13:8; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:20; Hebrews 4:1-2