never_time

A Time that Will Never Be, by Randall D. Kittle

Every spring in northern Illinois something happens chronologically that only happens once a year. It never happens during any other season, and sounds — at least on the surface — quite impossible and profound. There is an hour of time that never exists! In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 12, 2017, there is a time that occurs every other day of the year, but not on that day. Because of daylight-saving time, our clocks officially go from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. at the tick of the clock. On that day, and only that day, there is no 2:15, 2:30, or 2:45 a.m. (along with all the other minutes of that hour). For example, it is impossible to have a baby at 2:28 a.m. on March 12 of this year because it is a time that never will be, a time that doesn’t exist.

As I thought about all these minutes that never will be, I was reminded of some of the various times that will never be in the kingdom of God as well. There never will be a time when you are forsaken by the Lord, for He has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). We also know that in spite of the circumstances which may seem to engulf us, there will never be a time when they can separate us from God’s love. The Bible reassures us that “… nothing can separate us from His love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below — there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). Never will there be a minute when the Lord’s intentions for you are not good, for “… we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). There will also never be a time when God doesn’t have hope-filled plans for you, for He has declared “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Rejoice in the Nothing & Nevers
Don’t allow the trials and tribulations of life to dim your spiritual vision. Nothing can separate you from God, for He has called you His friend. He tells us that in John 15:15, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends.” And Jesus is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

We need to renew our minds to see the greatness of God’s love for us. When will God forsake you? … Never! When is God’s arm too short to rescue you? … Never! (see Isaiah 59:1). God’s eye is fixed on us, and He looks at us through the eyes of love. The prophet Zechariah declares that “whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8). Yes, God is both mighty on our behalf and yet tender with us. “The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

God has hope-filled plans for your future that He treasures in His heart, and He is working to cause all things to work for your good! At no time will He forsake you. At no time will He reject you. His thoughts are always for your blessing, protection, and prosperity! So, let us rejoice that we have come into so great a salvation, for there will never be a time when His mercy, grace, and love are insufficient for even our biggest need.