2) And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it
plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3) For the vision is yet
for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it
tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:2-3
I used to believe there was no such thing as
time with God. For instance, God is eternal (Deuteronomy
33:27). He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews
13:8). And He speaks as if time doesn't matter:
He calls those things that be not as though they were (Romans
4:17); and He mixes tenses as though they were presently
active (e.g. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Before Abraham was, I am [John 8:58]).
I believed this up until I read Habakkuk 2:2-3.
Look at the several terms in the passage that are all time
based ...
"appointed time" ... "at the end" ... "wait" ... "tarry".
By the way, the first tarry means "to linger, tarry,
wait, delay". While the second tarry infers "to
delay, tarry (intensive), stay behind (but not without hope)."
In other words, though the vision may require waiting, your
waiting should be with hope, knowing that at the appointed
time it will surely come to pass!
One of the references for this "appointed
time"
is Daniel 8:17 -
So he came near to where I was standing,
and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face;
but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision
pertains to the time of the end." [Daniel 8:17 NASB]
The timing for the vision refers to
the "time" of the end.
So, even
though God is timeless, there is actually timing with God.
Some visions will not be performed until the "appointed
time."
We all want God to use us in ministry.
And He has placed many wonderful things in our heart to
do for Him. In fact, we want God to bring
them to pass right now. But, God is saying there
is an appointed time for your vision.
We want Jesus to return
soon. Yet even God said that He will not return until
the set time. Even Jesus does not know the day nor
the hour.
Consider Jesus' life. Although He was
qualified at age twelve, He did not enter ministry until
He was 30. Talk about appointed time.
You may be saying,
I'm running out of time. Or I'm getting old. Well, Jesus
didn't fret over waiting on God's timing. So, why should
you?
It only took Jesus three years to accomplish
His mission. That's it. He lived thirty-three years, but
only three, under God's timing, were sufficient. We think
we need to spend 30 years in ministry. Jesus accomplished
His in three. Do you see the power of "appointed time"? Be
encouraged.
So, now that we see the value of "waiting",
what do we do during this time? Serve God,
pray, clearly hear from Him, and prepare. These are all progressive
active steps we can take while "waiting on the Lord."
So, be of good courage. The good news
is that the vision will not tarry. It will surely come,
though it delays. And when the timing is right, there is
no devil, "no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed
against the LORD" (Psalm 21:30 NIV).
Psalm 193:16 (LB) says that God has "scheduled
each day of my life before I began to breathe."
So, don't fret that your vision has not yet come to pass.
In due season and at the appointed time it will come to pass.
