When you have the time, or perhaps better yet, make the time, study what occurred historically in the nation of Israel from when the Almighty was silent for four hundred years until the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ of a virgin. If you avail yourself to this study, the word “coincidence” will lose its meaning for you.
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” (Gal. 4:4)
From the rise of the traditions-based Pharisees, of Rome’s rise, to Herod, the Almighty set everything in motion for the Savior of this world to appear on the scene.
I have contemplated occasionally a verse similar to those four hundred years of silence in the Book of Revelation.
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” (8:1)
Angels moving, nearly continuous praise, the four and twenty elder’s actions and words, action continuously, and then thirty minutes of complete silence, movement ceases. In my mind it infers something enormous is being prepared, something spectacular is going to happen.
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
The cult of Rome busying themselves with maintaining control over the millions they have deceived, Charismatics continually seeking for the next uplifting emotional feeling, Evangelical churches busying themselves with meetings, conferences, even some who truly are born-again concentrating on the next trip to the ghetto, how many blankets to take, how much food to prepare.
And all the while neglecting what may be the most important action first, to be still before the Almighty.
We make plans, and then ask the Lord to bless those plans, we do not wait on the Lord, we act believing this will help, instead of how this will glorify His name.
Satan is subtle above anything any of us can comprehend, but if you have been blessed with wisdom, you just realized from that previous sentence how the enabled society began, and continues in full force, an enabled society that will not lead to obedience in love for the glory of the Most High, but for the desires of the flesh, the temporary needs and wants to be fulfilled.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Prov. 4:7)
Feed the poor, help the homeless, welcome the immigrants, take care of widows and orphans. Do you know of a secular organization, a religious cult of works, or an Evangelical church that does not do this? But for what purpose? Do they not all have an agenda? Do they not all have a desire that those they are reaching out to would become obedient to a cause?
What is your purpose in going out to all those we speak of if not to draw them to the knowledge of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you been still before Him first, or did you just make plans, and then ask Him to bless those plans?
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
Take blankets with you for those that are cold if you so desire, load up your vehicle with food for those that are hungry, perhaps coats and shoes. That is well and good, even honorable. But do not forget why you are doing so.
Our Adversary is in essence doing the same thing, enabling the masses so that when hardships arrive, they will turn to him. The Romanist and all other works-based cults are doing the same, for the same reason. We go to them with an eternal message.
“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:15)
Pray first, make plans second. Be still first, before you take any action meant to glorify His Holy name, be still before Him first.