Narda Reid
- Aug 22, 2023
- 4 min read

It Takes Time...

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the LORD is.

Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:16,17

"...and it came to pass... " Genesis 6:1

Time is an essential and invaluable commodity. It is a forgotten treasure in the hands of those who waste it. It is a balm for the pain and wounds of the emotionally, mentally, and physically sick. It is the savior of a broken and dying marriage; the thoughtful restorer of friendships; the great sifter of truth and error. It is the beautifully played symphony of grace as it weaves into the heart the eternal message that God loves the world and is working tirelessly in measured beats, of prophetic time, to save those who love Him, despite their intense determination to "leave the God " they love. Jesus works in countless unmeasured beats for the lost...those who misunderstand or hate Him. Time... it takes time for change.

''And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose " Genesis 6:1-2. I promised in the first of the Pandora series to unpack the above passage, so that the evil of this unapproved vice may be exposed, and the shackles that hold men and women captive may be permanently broken by God's amazing grace and *El-Shaddai power! (*God Almighty; The All-Powerful God).

The Bible said in the first part of Genesis 6:1-2, "that it came to pass..." The primary place that these words were used was in Genesis 4: 3, where they were preceded by a key phrase that helps to shed light on its meaning: “And in [the] process of time, it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.” Strong evidence suggests that in the passing of a period of time, something changed or deviated from excellence to a low standard of compromise or respect. Cain and Abel were given special instructions about how to worship God. God wanted a lamb that pointed to Christ along with a thanksgiving offering. in the beginning, it was easy and both young men obeyed, but after a while "in the process of time", Cain wanted to do things his way. Abel faithfully and lovingly continued to concur, while Cain didn't. He grew weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9-10), and God chastised him:

Hebrews 11:4 - “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
1 John 3:12- "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."
Jude 1:11- Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished...

Unfortunately, this behavior or tendency was influenced by the erroneous example of his parents, Eve and then Adam. Though they repented, the seed of the consequences of their sin still remained.

Today you may have found yourselves in places where you didn't intend to go, but Satan holds you in a death trap. You feel anxious and unsure about what to do next. Satan may even deceive you into believing that you are good where you are. He might be so skilled that he makes you believe that you don't even want to be saved... a part of Heaven's family because "godly things are boring". I use to think that only young people feel this way...but the more I live... I see this in the lives of both young and old.

Someone slipped along the way "in the process of time", is that someone you? Me?

Now, in this space of deep self-reflection, and as time grants us grace, may we start today, not tomorrow that is unpromised to begin redeeming the time.

Take charge of the habits that so easily beset you. Invest in your mental health, spiritual revival, and reformation. How?

Friends, remember that Jesus is in the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. He is working in countless unmeasured beats for the lost...those who misunderstand or hate Him. He is also working tirelessly in measured beats, of prophetic time, to save those who love Him, It takes time for change, to get up from the pig pens of life and go home to the Father who had loved you all along.

How can I use time as my friend instead of my enemy? I leave us with sound advice from experienced Christian pioneers and counselors who have gone before us:

From Paul: Don't Give up!

From Solomon: Listen to God's Advice in His Word. They are Essential...They are failproof.

Proverbs 4:13: Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

From Job: God Still Desires Righteousness... Pursue it Every Morning, Noon Day, and Every Night. It Takes Time Time to Know, Understand and Trust that God is Good. Take Time for Devotion...for Worship!