The Appointed Time

Peter L. Meney | Added: Jan 29, 2026 | Category: Editorial

A faithful old friend passed recently into the presence of her loving God. Her troubles are over. Her last tear is shed. She is in the presence of her Saviour with joy. What a glorious looking-forward to we have as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ! 

How blessed we are to be able to face old age, physical frailty, a deteriorating mind, and the fears of this temporal life with a sure and certain hope of everlasting life. By divine grace we have given our souls into the care of Christ, being persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12).

Nothing on earth can outweigh the blessedness of our eternal hope in Jesus Christ. ‘Without God in the world’ (Ephesians 2:12) is a dark and fearsome state. How much better to live daily ‘In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began’ (Titus 1:2). How blessed to rest on enduring promises of everlasting life from the eternal God. 

‘Before the world began’, for His own good pleasure and for His great love wherewith He loved us (Ephesians 2:4), God chose a people for Himself. He determined to be merciful to them and set these individuals apart in the eternal covenant of grace and peace. He sanctified them in Christ. He viewed them under the suretyship of His dear Son. He imputed righteousness to them and justified them upon the merits of their Substitute (1 Corinthians 1:28-30, Ephesians 1:1-7). 

The Lord Jesus Christ undertook to provide for their every need. He took their flesh as their Representative. He came into this world as their Great High Priest. He fought their enemies. He suffered in their place and was made a ransom for their souls.  He died for their sins which He carried in His own body. He rose again to give them everlasting life. Still He represents them in heaven, watching over them day by day with tender love and mercy.

In God’s perfect timing His Spirit brings the blessings of Christ’s work to each chosen child of God. He gives faith to believe in Christ crucified ‘for the remission of sins’. He gives confidence in His gospel. He makes us new creatures, spiritual worshippers and fruitful followers for Christ’s sake. He grants peace along life’s journey and hope for future joy. He causes God’s elect to say, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever’.

Then, at the appointed time, God who loved, chose, sanctified, justified, redeemed, converted and preserves us all the days of our life takes us home to glory to dwell with Him for ever.

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