In the September 11 edition of "World" Magazine, I read a story of how a Oklahoma woman managed to evacuate 10 Afghan school girls, saving them from Taliban terrorists.
The woman, Allyson Reneau had connected with the girls at an event in Washington DC in 2019. With the help of a friend in Qutar, paperwork was processed and officials on the ground in Afghanistan were able to put the girls on a plane . Reneau then flew to Qutar to connect with the girls and make arrangement for them to come the the US where they will continue their studies.
What caught my eye was something Reneau was quoted as saying: "It was a very narrow window of opportunity" (to get the girls out of Afghanistan).
"Opportunity." In St. Luke's account of the Temptation of Jesus, we know that the evil one could not lead Jesus into sin, not even once. Then, in verse 12 we read, When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him (Jesus) until an opportune time.
Satan may have felt defeated after a futile 40 days, but He never gives us. The "opportune" time came three years later. How the devil must have rubbed his hands in glee as he saw the hatred for Jesus by the religious leaders of the Jews. Now, the opportunity had finally come. Moved by the evil placed in their hearts, the leaders tried and convicted Jesus. They drug the Lord before Pilate who caved into their demands as he felt the pressure of the leaders and the bloodthirsty howls of the crowd - "Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Finally, in the afternoon at three pm, Jesus breathed His last. Surely, the devil must have thought that all his waiting had finally produced the result he wanted - the Son of God dead and buried!
You and I know that no matter how tough and crafty the devil is, he is no match for our Mighty Lord and King. The devil played into God's plan for Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world. What Satan meant for evil, God used it for good - our good. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead! Our debt to God, because of our sinful past, was paid in full.
Talking about an opportune time, remember these words from Galatians, chapter four: But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those those under law...(verses 4 & 5a).
Paul leaves not doubt - our salvation is the work of God beginning with the promise found in Genesis 3:15 until Jesus' resurrection from the dead and His final coming to judge the living and the dead.
And one more thing - Satan and his henchmen will receive what God has already prepared for them - everlasting punishment.
Now is the time for you and me to look for those opportunities to show and share the love of Jesus in our words and our deeds. Pray that God will give you the chance to invite a person to church or be there to pray for them when needed or do a Bible study together. Pray for the opportune time to share your Savior with someone else!
