When you've only got 100 years

With this week’s passing of three well-known personalities (Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson), I’ve been thinking about the role Timing plays in life. We know that the virtue of patience runs counter-intuitive in a culture where instant gratification drives most behaviors. The timeless expression, “good things come to those who wait,” has been echoed for generations, but few embrace this sentiment, especially in a world of “I want it now,” “Just do it” and “What’s in it for me?” Even though our base instinct encourages immediate intervention, the ability to wait on the Lord’s perfect timing (Galatians 5:22) proves to be a true gift. We may set out to accomplish certain goals by a certain age and then assess our progress relative to others at the same place in time, but these evaluations can bring disappointment and disillusion when we feel we haven’t attained such milestones in a timely manner. A “world view” would suggest that we work harder, longer or smarter to achieve, but living by God’s timetable always results in appropriate provision (Hebrews 6:11-12), albeit delayed from our perspective. No matter how much time we are given in this life, it is vitally important to count every minute -- until His triumphant return (James 5:7-8) -- and then make every minute count. Putting Self aside and waiting patiently for God will result in “good things,” even if the waiting itself proves to be the hardest part.