"God Time"

(Reposted)

Recently, I have been reading again through Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy using several translations. In that past this has not been a joyful reading experience but more of a chore slogging through the infinitesimal detail of the Law. But this time, I stopped quite often to reflect on some of the lesser known but specific Laws God gave the Israelites, like this one from Leviticus 5:

3 Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty.

Since the word, “man”, means mankind, I wondered if this would apply to babies bottoms? Can you imagine how hard that must have been for Israelite mom’s in the desert not to be defiled by dirty bottoms? Or how about this one from Leviticus 4:

27 ‘If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, 28 or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.

This command would surely have people thinking about what they are doing at all times, right? Earlier in chapter 4, we see that when the high priest sins, he makes the WHOLE nation guilty. How would you like that responsibility on your head? It is not like you had a choice.

God repeatedly tells the Israelites that there is great blessings in store for them if they obey all His Laws. But, if they disobey the Laws, they will be ruined. Now, considering the fact that they saw God decimate Pharoah, part the Red Sea, lead them through the desert in a cloud and even defeat their enemies in battles they should not have won, you would think they would take the Law very seriously.

It is easy for us to sit in our comfy living rooms reading through the law and shake our heads at these stubborn Israelites. This was brought home to me in a unique way. During the time I was reading through these ‘Law Books’ again, my seven year old daughter told me about the Chapel message that week at her private Christian school. The speaker (probably a youth pastor) put his calendar on the big screen and showed the students how each morning he has “God Time”. It is written in on his calendar every morning: "God Time"..in ink. This confused my daughter because it is not the message she hears at home. She wanted to know if we should schedule special “God Time” every morning, too. (Ah, the joys of Christian School!)

So, I did the “God is Sovereign” test on her. (Which we have done several times)I told her to take a deep breath and let it out. She did. I then told her: The only reason you can breathe is because God allows it. Now, seeing that we can only breathe each day because of God, how could we possible give Him a little bit of our precious time each day? We can squeeze God into our daily schedule? How generous of us!

No. How arrogant of us. This is the man centered theology that has taken over Christendom.

But, God showed me something very powerful while talking to my daughter. He connected the ‘Law’ dots with the ‘God Time’ dots. Why did He give Israel all these detailed Laws for every single interaction or situation? Why such specific instructions on how and where to build altars and the detailed processes for every type of sacrifice? There is even a whole chapter dedicated to recognizing and dealing with sores!

Why? Because ‘God Time’ was to be every minute of every day. They had to wake up each morning with God on their mind and think about every single thing they did to make sure they were not disobedient. Living each day, meant thinking about what they were doing and how they were doing it because of the Law. God could not be far from their minds every second of the day. Even in the mundane chore of a dirty baby bottom! In fact, in some cases, obeying the Law was a matter of life or death!

Even so, they were disobedient and unbelieving. And God killed many of them.

We are no longer under the Law. But, if Jesus Christ and His Holy Word, is not consciously on our hearts every minute of every day, we should probably examine ourselves to make sure we are in the Faith.

Some say this is unrealistic and we cannot be expected to live this way. I say, read the OT and look at what God expected from ‘His’ people. Now, when we are saved unto Jesus Christ, we are new creatures and He has given us a NEW heart. He gives us a hunger and thirst and for righteousness. He who begins a good work, finishes it. Has He begun a good work? How do we know? By what is in our heart and mind all day. Every day.

When we are saved, this new heart cannot be far from Him every day in every single word, thought or action. It is what the narrow road is all about. It is what ‘walking in the Light’ is all about. Every thought must be taken captive and made obedient to God. We must grow in Holiness, without which, we will not see God. We are able to do this because the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and we are in daily repentance.

“God Time” is not just our study and prayer time. Our study and prayer time is what makes every minute 'God Time'. We must have His Word stored in our hearts. May our lives eventually become walking prayers because all our time is ‘God Time’.

This is what makes us look so different from the world. And, it is the only way we will can be prepared for eternal Glory.

Images:

Moses, Aaron and Hur holding up the stick during battle

Loggia di Raffaello: The Column of Cloud

Sinai Desert