Subscribe
Latest Activity
-
About
Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
-
By Month
-
- ►March
- ►February
- ►January
- ►2009
- ►2008
- ►2007
-
Links
© 2008 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.
“In the fullness of time…”
Posted on December 23, 2008
Filed Under Theology |
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman…” Gal 4:4 (ESV)
“…the fullness of time…” This phrase conveys more than just the notion that God was waiting for the right moment or the perfect opportunity to come along. It conveys that there was a plan…a script…a composition that was now reaching its zenith, its crescendo. 
It didn’t just happen.
It didn’t just emerge as a fortunate opportunity in the randomness of time and events.
Jesus didn’t just “burst” onto the scene out of nowhere.
It was planned from the beginning.
All the prophecies foretold it.
All the types foreshadowed it.
All the promises pointed toward it.
It was the “kairos” moment that all history had been preparing for.
The first hint came in the garden—a veiled statement about a “seed” that would come and somehow set everything right. More hints followed, partially hidden and obscured in the language of covenants and promises, ceremonies and feasts, tents and temples and water pouring out of rock. There were miracles and signs, types and shadows, and a law that demanded and required and tutored man to hope and yearn for it.
It was a mysterious story, a metanarrative, a lens of divine revelation that opened ever so slowy, yet steadily. And woven into its fabric, were the host of prophecies, telling us more and more about the coming of this “seed”, this savior, this Messiah. Yet, the whole tapestry remained in the fog of prophetic language—a dancing of shadows on the wall, a wavy reflection on the surface of water that never seemed to become calm enough to make out the exact image.
But, those shadows and reflections held some amazing details about this One who would come. The prophet Isaiah, in a few pages, gives us tantalizing tidbits about Him: that He would not have great outward beauty or form or majesty (53:2); that He would be despised and rejected by men (53:3); that He would be wounded, disfigured, and suffer (52:14, 53:2); that He would bear our grief and sorrow (53:4); that He would be stricken, afflicted, smitten by God (53:4); that His suffering would be for our transgressions, our iniquities (53:5); that His sacrifice would bring us peace and healing (53:5); that He would be our substitutionary atonement (53:6,8); that He would remain silent through all of this suffering (53:7); that He would die (53:8); that His burial would be associated with a rich man (53:9); yet for all of this He would be innocent, without violence, without deceit (53:9); but it would be the will of God to crush Him (53:10), so that His righteousness would be accounted to many (53:11), bearing their sin and making intercession for them (53:12); and yet, in the end, He would be exalted (52:13).
Looking back, it all makes perfect sense; yet as mere shadows and reflections, it was still veiled and hidden.
But the growing weight of it all was like the rising volume of a symphony. No one could doubt the music was getting louder and louder, the tempo increasing, the instruments beginning to join in greater and greater harmony. As if on queue, the prophet Malachi then stands and shouts: “Behold, the day is coming…!” and “Behold, I send my messenger…!” and finally “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord…!”
And then, as the whole thing rushes to its mighty and magnificent crescendo…
…the music stops.
Everything goes dark.
Revelation ceases.
All is silent…
Comments
17 Responses to ““In the fullness of time…””
Leave a Reply
Comments are moderated and will not appear on deltackett.com until they've been approved. While we are eager to facilitate conversation by publishing most comments, we may withhold one from time to time if we deem it offensive, vulgar, overly personal, cynical, disrespectful, irrelevant, redundant or unnecessarily contentious. While we encourage you not to make others' misspellings and grammatical mistakes an issue of debate, please do your best to double-check your spelling, use correct capitalization, and use proper grammar.
Comments on Del Tackett's blog may not refer specifically to any current electoral candidate, or any measure on a current ballot – at any level of local, state, or federal government. Focus on the Family is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity, and therefore cannot take a position on specific votes. Nor can we display any such statements on our Web sites. Likewise, we cannot discuss here the personal viewpoints of people like Dr. Dobson or Jim Daly on political candidates or ballot measures. Any posts to this forum which violate these rules will be removed. There is an alternative venue for this type of discussion. Some activities of this nature are undertaken by Focus on the Family Action, a 501(c)(4) organization, and its media outlet, Citizenlink.
Beautiful. Magnificent. Overwhelming.
What an incredibly wonderful, loving, compassionate, faithful God!
so, this morning in my conversation with God, I heard loud and clear “read my word” (ok, I thought I had been, but he meant - right NOW - I went to Psalm 118 - where the message began - then at Psalm 136 - oh my, loud and clear - over and over - Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his lovingkindness is forever - and again and again and again His lovingkindness is forever - well, pretty obvious - His lovingkindness is FOREVER! Also, I checked out an old dictionary I have (Thorndike & Barnhart 1956) God is described: The maker and ruler of the world; a being that loves and helps man. Merry Christmas Mr. Tackett - Thank you for The Truth Project. Sheila
Beautiful devotional. Breathtaking.
It conveyed the majesty of Scripture, bringing into focus its arc across history. I remember the first time I read Isaiah 53 after becoming a Christian. I was just amazed by it. Written 700 years before the events it describes. His righteousness accounted to many.
I also enjoyed the title of the devotional: “In the fullness of time …” Before I became a Christian, I was actually very familiar with this phrase. I had often heard it spoken of by others, who misused it by ascribing it not to the birth of Jesus Christ, but to the birth of … someone else. Now, when I read chapter 4 in Galatians, I smile as I realize Who “In the fullness of time” really refers to.
Yes indeed, and the silence was broken that we might be redeeemed from the law and made son’s and heirs of his kingdom through the birth, death, and resurrection of the “Lamb of God”
Indeed an amazing grace. Thanks for the crescendo!
As I read this article I am drawn to Joshua where it says either have courage or be courageuos at least 5 times, In the “fullness of time” we christians have a duty/obligation to be courageous and stand against the wave of darkness.
Dear Dr. Tackett, My wife, Judy and I enrolled in the Truth Project thru our Church, 1st. Christian of Boca Raton Florida last year. What a revelation!! We were so moved that we decided to be group leaders for our High School seniors this past fall.This group of seniors are very active in our Church thru our youth Minister. We are eight weeks into the lessons and have suspended the Ministery until the middle of January. We have about 12 teens in the group each week and have had a total of seventeen teens participate at some time or other We pray for each of them by name at the end of the lesson and I must tell you this Ministry is the most important contribution to the Lord I have made in my lifetime. The youth are great and look forward to being at our house each week. As you know our youth need praise to keep focus and I would appreciate it if you would consider sending a recorded DVD directed to the youth that participated from our Church. We would play your words of encouragement at our Sunday service as we recognize our youth. Thank God for you. Carroll
How marvelous it is to know that from the very beginning God was preparing, through Jesus’ ancestors, the necessary DNA for His incarnation!
Thank you for your priceless contribution, Dr. Tackett. Merry Christmas!
Just what I needed to help get my day started. As I read these beautiful words I could literally hear Dr. Tackett speaking as he does so eloquently . And to think that Jesus did this all for me. Tjo God be the Glory.
Thanks for bringing out the immensity of God’s plan and evoking in me the awe for His majesty and Sovreignity.
I plan to read this to my family on Christmas day.
God Bless you, Merry Christmas!
Christ Peace Dr. Tacket,
I thank God for your ministry and how it is touching people throughout the world! As I read the Isaiah passages my heart began to burn for the Word of God. I stand in awl of His majesty as His words sink deep into my very being. As I watch those prophesies come to fruition throughout Scripture I can’t help but think about what prophesies are being filled right before our eyes! These prophesies may be shadows and reflections to us but what is of utmost import is that we, living today, are part of those prophesies! We are brought into the metanarrative of Scripture as we live and move in God’s creation. Scripture isn’t something to be held at arms length. It is to be lived even in our times and in our lives!! We are an intrinsic part of God’s Word being played out on the stage of human existence as we watch for the coming of our Lord and King Jesus Christ!! I thank you again for your servant attitude and willingness to give to others. May God richly bless you in your ministry and may your Christmas celebration be one of exceeding joy and peace. God bless you and your family.
Yours in His Love and by His Grace,
Dave
At a coffee house this morning we discussed our Soveriegn Lord’s cosmic plan, and his plan for each of us, in this day. Yes, amazing.
Also, Dr. Tackett, thank you for the Truth Project. We are in week 8 of our first small group “roll out” of the Truth Project. The group is comprised of mature believers who have each committed to being leaders of small groups. At the first session, several were in tears, having been confronted with the truth. God is at work!
Merry Christmas
My husband and I appreciate your insight into the God’s Word and Truth. We recently found another sight that you would appreciate, and refers to the “fullness of time.” A lawyer and amateur astronomer made a startling discovery in the heavens with the aid of modern technology. Using God’s Word, he researched the heavens and discovered the signs that God intended for us. From the beginning of creation, God set in motion the stars, planets and galaxies to confirm the birth and death of His Son! Check out http://www.bethlehemstar.net. We are blessed to have people like you and Rick Larson and many others to share God’s message! Merry Christmas!!
Ann
You said it so beautifully–the awesome TRUTH of the incarnation. How can I do any less than bow at His feet and worship the One who stepped from glory onto planet earth for such a one as me! There are nine of us reveling in The Truth Project with four more lessons to go. My pastor/husband and I can’t thank you enough for making this project available! God bless you abundantly Dr. Tackett and have a joyous celebration of Christ’s birth!
Amen, amen! Thank you 1st Jesus then you, Dr. Tackett. Once again Gods’ faithfullness and beauty blows me away. Wondering how to make tomarrow morning what my heart yearns for has been given to me. Printing your “In The Fullness of Time” article will be what we read, reflect and praise Him for. The Christmas Story has been read over and over this year, but this encapsulates so much more that our precious grandson can easily study and grow in, with us. Preparing for ministry to lost and broken kids his age when they are all grown up. Thank you for serving faithfully in giving us The Truth Project. Merry Christmas and may the Christmas Spirt be yours all through 2009.
I have received my dvds, and I am thankful to God for you and those who exerted the efort to creae such a wonderful copurse. I am going to show them to my sister’s foreign exchange students over Christmas holidays, at least two of whom have received Christ. God bless you. Mike
My husband and I have just finished The Truth Project and, I’m sure you’ve heard this before, it is transforming us. We have taken Bible studies in the past and they have been marvelous, but this study is the one we have needed to build the framework to truly put the learning into action. This Christmas has held special meaning for us since taking this course. We cannot even begin to understand His incredible love us but we now have a much deeper relationship with Christ that cannot be satisfied with words. Dr. Tackett you are truly a blessing to Christians around the world. Thank you and may God continue to bless and guide all of you at Focus on the Family Institute.
My wife and I have been truly blessed by seeing the “Truth Project” several times. It is the best presentation of a Biblical world view that we know. Dr. Tackett’s breadth of knowledge and his incisive comments are exceptional. His faith, his humor and his concern that others may “know the truth” are refreshing and challenging in this age of cynicism and doubt. We give God thanks for him and for Focus on the Family.