The Time of Visitation

January 2009

Luke 19 tells the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As He began His journey down the side of the Mount of Olives, we’ll let Luke take over the story. 41 “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.’”

Now, I want to give you a little background here, because it is understandable why the Jews might not have recognized the moment. Around 200 years earlier, the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV became determined to end all worship of the true God in Israel. He slaughtered thousands of Jews and set up pagan altars throughout the country. Through the courage and commitment of one priest, named Mattathias, and his five sons a revolt, known as the Maccabean Revolt, began in 168 B.C. which led to the restoration of godly worship; and in 142 B.C., Israel was actually granted independence. Jerusalem enjoyed a somewhat stormy independence for a little over 100 years. However, in 36 B.C. Herod and the Romans captured Jerusalem, so Jesus’ birth came at a time that the Jews were a conquered nation.

The years Jesus lived were difficult and unhappy years for God’s people. In fact, things would continue to deteriorate to the point that Israel rebelled against Rome and in 67 B.C. Jerusalem was leveled, just as Jesus prophesied. I know this is a long explanation, but I want you to see how turbulent the times were when Jesus made the above statement. A nation which had thrown off tyranny and gained independence a couple of centuries before was facing oppressive, difficult times (does any of this sound familiar?); so they could be excused for not expecting God to choose that moment to perform His greatest act of love.

I believe there are some great parallels here for us. Right now, as a nation, we are facing some of the most unstable times we have experienced in our lifetimes. We should have our spiritual antennae up now, more than ever. Doesn’t God choose moments like these for His greatest visitations? In Genesis 1, God brought life and light out of chaos and darkness. In Exodus, He steps into 400 years of slavery and poverty and brings forth a deliverer. In Judges, over and over He answers desperate times with Deborah, Gideon, Sampson, et al. In fact, in Exodus and Judges we see a common thread: Israel became desperate and cried out, bringing God to act.

Today, America is desperate. We, the church, need to expect God to act. Luke 2 tells the story of two people who were looking for their visitation in those dark days: Simeon and Anna. They were expecting God to act, and were quick to recognize the moment. That’s how we must be: expectant, and quick to act. I think we need to expect people to be looking for help like never before. We also need to speak faith, not fear. This is a little tricky for me: believing what God has said instead of what my eyes see. Psalm 32:6 says, “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.” I’d like for us to pray that God does miraculous things in the finances of our church and the individuals who attend, in spite of the current global fiscal crisis. Pray that, just like the picture in Exodus 12, death and destruction will pass over the houses that are covered by the blood. This year, let’s be ready for our visitation!

Danny