“In the fullness of time - God sent His son” Galatians 4:4
When I was growing up, I loved spinach. Like many other young boys, we believed in the Popeye super effect of eating spinach and instantly being super strong. Popeye was an involved person, not a bystander.
There are four main characters in the Popeye cartoon: Brutus, Olive Oyl, Wimpy and Popeye.
Brutus was a villain and would pick on the woman named Olive Oyl. He needed to be put in his place, and that is something Popeye would do.
Olive Oyl was Popeye’s girlfriend and she adored him.
Wimpy really only knew how to eat hamburgers and watch things. He never got involved.
Popeye was a guy who tolerated a lot of things and then would finally reach a point of preparing to take action and would use the following phrase as he began to be involved, “ That’s all I can stand, and I can’t stand no more.” He would then get a can of spinach and squeeze it into his mouth and as he started to eat it, everyone knew his involvement was serious business and it would be over for the villain. There is a great lesson from God here.
God knew the that the time was right, the time was perfect for entering into the world as a child and getting involved in a more personal way than ever before. Did man wish it was earlier, absolutely! Was man tired of the mess, yes! We were desperate for an intervention of hope, peace, joy, and love- yes!
The timing was perfect. God got involved - He came “not to be served but to give His life as a ransom for many.” He got involved because we needed redemption for our sin, and He got involved because He loves us.
There were 400 years of silence from God. The Roads had been built where Paul would walk freely and quickly as a Roman citizen. The Jews were scattered and there was a hope that was all over the world. The Greek language was known and used all over the world - making it easy to spread the word about the redemption of mankind.
Yes, God was not a bystander, and to use the words of Popeye, God basically said “That’s all I can stand, and I can’t stand no more.” He engaged on a whole new level as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Would you be one who gets involved in the work of God? I need to be tired of all waywardness in the world and get involved more in the work of God.
