We are still discussing our thesis which is, “to everything and to everyone there is a time appointed.” Solomon who wrote this no doubt knew that there is an appointed time for everyone and for every task under heaven. While his father David desired to build a temple for the Lord, it was not the 
Lord’s purpose to build the temple through him. David speaking said, 

David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.” 1 Chronicles 22:7-9

It was Solomon’s destiny to build the temple of the Lord by using the materials gathered by his father. What is amazing here is that David, though not granted his desire, respected the Lord’s decision to put his son in charge of building the temple. Looking forward, he took it upon himself to do all he can to prepare for the time that Solomon would build the temple. 

He in fact made it easy for Solomon to build the temple so that it was done faster than Solomon’s own house. We may all have desires to do for the Lord as well as for ourselves, but sometimes, the grace of God is not there to actually do these things. When we insist of going forward, we meet oppositions, resistance as well as the lack of peace. 

I consider it walking in the wrong direction when we actually lack the peace of God to do a task. For instance, Paul was not allowed by the Holy Spirit to go beyond the apportioned boundary that he was given at the time to preach to Asia. Instead, he was given direction to move to Macedonia and preach the Gospel to Europe (see Acts 16:6). By following this direction, Christianity was eventually pioneered in these areas and the outcome had been the founding of Christendom in Europe. By listening to God’s voice, knowing our purpose and understanding God’s timing, we will be found in His perfect will. 

God’s perfect will is not found by coincidence, it will always be based on His word, His purpose for your life and the timing of this purpose. We need to discern the appointed time for our purposes because unless we know it is, then we cannot do our tasks. We then become paralyzed because of many distractions, unnecessary things that grab our attention. Because the heart of Solomon was one with his father’s vision to build the temple, he was able to finish it quickly and because Paul’s heart was to reach for the gentiles and connect them to the Lord, doors were opened to him to minister. In the case of Solomon, his purpose was to be the Lord’s temple builder while for Paul he was called to be a herald of the gospel to the Gentiles. Our purpose and training will always be a factor in what we play in the unfolding scenario of God’s plan in our lives. 

There are no coincidences. Let us take this a bit more. During the revivals of the early period of 1990s at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos campus, a Com Arts student by the name of Ed Pilapil Jr. stirred by the Lord, took it to his heart to disciple a few group of students. Their dedication, drive and commitment paid off so that this fledgling group soon increased to hundreds and more until Ed became the founding Pastor of the Sound of His Voice Ministries. Many supernatural things were experienced in their revival meetings such as the Lord speaking about the identity of a person without the speaker knowing personally the student. Reported healings and miracles were also written about. 

The early fire did not die down although the early disciples are now leaders and Pastor Ed moved to coaching in the area of business, the seed of the revival continues to bear fruit through thousands of students who were previously touched and who brought these revivals into their own home congregations as well as into the mission field. When God finds a vessel willing to be used by Him, He will not only pour out his heart but also His wonders. 

Some people don’t like the packages of God’s gifts to them and therefore, when they come, they essentially reject the very ones they have been praying for. We have to accept that sometimes, God’s gifts to us may not actually come in the way we envision them in our minds. David prayed and visualized himself building the temple, but he was not the one chosen to do it. 

Paul wanted to go to Asia but the Lord had other plans for him and he opened the doors for Europe. Ed Pilapil Jr. may have other plans such as finishing his studies at UPLB on time but the Lord chose to do mighty things through him and though he did finished his studies later, it was also a blessing in disguise because he was able to disciple leaders who became pastors and leaders in their own right. 

Our plans and our lives are not anymore our own. When we surrendered them to the Lord Jesus Christ, even our time, is not our time anymore. Let us chose to follow His way and that means, our Christian walk, is a continual walk of surrender to the higher purposes of God, done according to His own time. Our Father knows best!