It Is Not Too Late, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye
The life of we humans is generally dictated by time. The Bible also makes us to know that to everything there is a season and a time stipulated for everything under heaven (Eccl. 3:1).
So that for particular purpose or event, a time is associated with it, and if that time or season passes, man is prone to believe that it is too late for them.
In Eccl. 3:2-8, the Bible tells us that there is a time to be born, so that when pregnancies go pass nine months, there is usually this apprehension that something might have gone wrong. Also, the same scripture says there is a time to die, so that when one reaches 70 years, there is a feeling of I will soon go.
It is true that prevailing circumstances such as age, physiology, gender and other parameters might suggest a time frame for us, but if we have faith in the Almighty God who dwells in eternity, with Him nothing is impossible.
For example, Enoch has not died yet.
Elijah is yet to die too.
You will live long as well.
Some years ago, I read a book written by Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo. The book is titled ‘It’s not over till it’s over’. One of the striking statements to me in the book that I can’t forget was that he said for the first five years in his ministry, he pastored 35 people in London! Guess what, as at the time I was reading his book, his congregation was about 7000, the biggest in UK then.
Our parish then was like 2 years and were more than 35 and in the city of Leeds. So I said to myself, there is hope for me.
There is hope for you too!
In Mathew 20:1-16, Jesus told a very interesting parable which we can relate to. In many places in Africa, just like in Jesus days in Israel, tradesmen such as bricklayers, carpenters, electricians and handy men gather very early in the morning at market places, hoping to be contracted for work by land owners or main contractors.
The peak time to be hired is about 6am, so that such labourers get to the location from about 4am, and it always happened that if one has not been engaged by 10am, hope for that day is lost, till tomorrow again.
However, in the above scripture, Jesus said the landowner went and took first labourers at 6am for a dinar (Romans soldiers’ wage). Then he went for more labourers at 9am, and at 12noon, then at 3pm and finally at 5pm and to each of these groups, he promised to treat them well. To their greatest surprise, they were given a dinar each! They were even paid first!
God will treat you well.
Supposing they had gone home at 8am or 10am, what would be their story? They would have lost the generous paycheque.
You need to tarry at your marketplace. The landowner is coming for you soon.
The earth is The Lord’s and the fullness thereof, they and all that dwell in it. That same God will carve out a generous portion for you.
There is someone here; your business has come to a halt. You are presently idle at the marketplace. You have energy, you have skills, you are talented, and you even have certain equipment to use, but no contract or job. You wake early, got to the market place first; people that arrived after you are getting the contract and were hired. You are still waiting.
May the eleventh hour favour locate you right now in Jesus name.
To someone here, the next contract you will get, they will tell you that they have been looking for someone like you for long.
To another fellow, within 7 weeks from now, your employer will pay you a wage you couldn’t have had the courage to negotiate for.
In I Sam. 1:1-28, Peninnah thought it was over for Hannah, the bible did not tell us their ages, but one thing is clear, Hannah’s name was mentioned first, that means she was older. It is possible that Peninnah was married because of the inability of Hannah to conceive over time.
It is possible that Hannah was nearing menopause. Her husband was encouraging her that he should be more to her than ten sons? This suggests that it is possible that Peninnah had given birth to ten sons already and Hannah was yet to have one!
Elkanah possibly had given up on Hannah as well. He was supposed to say that I know God will do it. Rather, he was saying let me be the sons you can’t have. But God showed that it was not too late for Hannah, she had five children! Samuel alone was more than 10 sons of Peninnah.
If you are trusting God for your first or next child, it is not too late.
Someone is here; you have come to a personal conviction that there is no point in trying again. Your reason is that your mates have gone far. God says those that you are looking at, I will make you to outrun them.
In Judges 11:1-11, Jephthah was born into an influential family. His father was notable in Israel, but because his mother was not a legitimate wife, the sons of the legal wife threw him out, possibly after the death of their father. So Jephthah became a vagabond and survived from raids on passer-byes. He was denied his portion of his father’s estates.
However, God granted him eleventh hour favours, when he thought life had ended for him, a war broke out between the Israelites and the Ammonites. The elders of Israel knowing that Jephthah was courageous and skilful in wars ran to him to lead them to battle. He made a treaty with them that if he did and he won, he would be their leader, this they agreed to, and it eventually happened. From a vagabond to a national judge!
You are here, what you do now can’t be said to be a job; it’s just for you to merely survive. Hear this; it’s not too late for you. You will still be elevated and celebrated.
You are here; you were born into an influential family. But today, there is no smell of honour on you. Again, I’m told to tell you that it’s not too late for you. The eleventh hour favour will locate you.
In John 11:9, Jesus Christ said that there are 12 hours in which men must work (6am-6pm), suggesting that the night cometh when no man can work (6pm-6am). Or it could be interpreted as time of youth vis a viz time of old age.
May be the hour of work for a particular aspect of your life is fast approaching 6pm. God says, He will complete that aspect before the closing time.
Will you wait for God at your marketplace like those labourers? Endure and the eleventh hour favours shall be yours in Jesus name.
Prayers
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Almighty Father, help me to wait for you.
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Almighty Father, let my life be an example for many that God is never late.
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Almighty Father, when all other helpers fail, please don’t fail me.