Timing is Everything

“For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.” 1 Corinthians 16:7-9 BSB

In a story published by the AP News over the weekend, it was reported that Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe was the winner of the prestigious London Marathon. The Kenyan runner made a solo breakaway with more than 10 kilometers left and never looked like wavering in the sunshine as he cruised to victory in the London Marathon on Sunday. Sawe pulled away from a leading group of nine runners about 90 minutes into the race and finished in 2 hours, 2 minutes and 27 seconds. Sawe made his move when his rivals slowed down at a drinks station — opting not to take any water despite temperatures that crept toward 18 C (64) as the elite runners were finishing. “I saw that was my opportunity to push,” Sawe said. “And I ran well.” So well that the only rival who was able to give chase was Jacob Kiplimo, the half marathon world record holder who was making his full marathon debut. But Kiplimo was never able to get close to erasing the gap, and the Ugandan finished 70 seconds back in second place.

And, you know, as this story shows, the timing of a person’s actions can determine their success. Sawe saw an opportunity to “push” and immediately took it. The apostle Paul also knew that timing was everything and, although he wanted to go through the region of Macedonia to spend “some time” in Corinth, he said he would only do so “if the Lord” permitted it. Meanwhile, Paul would stay in Ephesus as the Lord directed him because an opportunity or “great door for effective work” had opened. Paul knew that following the Lord’s plan was more important than following his own which is the very reason he would stay in the place God wanted him to. One more thing Paul knew was this… opposition most always accompanies opportunities (as we can see in Acts 19). And when (not if) this happens, believers need to “push” through the many that might oppose them.  

So, model the example of Paul who modeled the example of Jesus my friend—remembering that timing is everything. Stay where God tells you to stay until He tells you to go… and then keep going until He tells you to stop, no matter what opposition you might face along the way. It will be worth it in the end when you can confidently declare, “I ran well.”

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that your ways are higher than ours so that we will trust and follow your plan rather than our own. Help us to recognize the opportunities You give us to preach the Gospel Lord and to be discerning as to when we are to push or to pause. Help us to run the race set before us well so that we might bring You glory. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!