During our semi-annual trip to South Africa, the oil pipeline in Zimbabwe was bombed by opposition fighters. It left thousands of people stranded for weeks without fuel. We had managed to get across the border just before everything shut down. As our two weeks of Christmas holiday and shopping neared an end, we knew we had to find an alternate route back north to Zambia—not an easy task. We finally drove through Botswana and across the Kalahari Desert. After an exhausting two days down dusty unpaved roads, we were nearing the crossing point into Zambia. It was late afternoon as we rushed the final few miles praying we would reach the ferry before it closed for the night. We had only one remaining opportunity of crossing that day. If we missed this window of time, we faced staying in our vehicle overnight in the war tore Caprivi Strip bordering Angola. Thankfully, we arrived just in time to cross the half-mile wide Zambezi River. This was an adventure in itself. With our truck full of supplies and with our two children, I drove on the ferry constructed from old oil drums pulled across with ropes. Yet, this was far safer even with the crocodiles than waiting for a morning opportunity.
The LORD is the God of second chances. However, some opportunities may come around only once. These occasions may never happen again or take a lengthy time to recur. After Cyrus released the exiles to return to Israel, some Jews remained in Persia. Under the reign of Artaxerxes, Haman, his prime minister, devised a plot to exterminate all the Jews. Through God’s providence, Esther, a young Jewish girl had been chosen to be Queen. When the plot was about to come to fruition, her uncle Mordecai told her she must intervene to the King. Adding the possibility of why she had become Queen. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this? (Est 4:14). The Hebrew word for such a time can also be translated ‘window of opportunity’.
We all face ‘windows of opportunity’. But remember windows not only open, they also close. When God opens windows for us, we may have a limited time frame to act or the window will close. Two weeks ago I wrote about Israel crossing the Jordon River. When the priest got their feet wet, the water began to roll back—step by step until they were standing on dry ground. God provided a ‘window of opportunity’ for all Israel to cross. However, there was a point when this window closed. Then the waters of the Jordon once again returned to flood stage. Imagine for a moment if there had been a family who was still doubtful about crossing and decided to wait one more day. Well, they would have been stranded alone on the Eastern banks with no way across.
Jesus says anyone building a tower should calculate the cost before beginning. However, when one determines they have the resources needed then the calculating stops. It’s time to act. Had I decided to rethink crossing the Zambezi on this rickety ferry until the next opportunity, we would have been stranded in an extremely dangerous war zone and possibly killed.
As we enter into a new year, some of you may be facing difficult decisions. If you have calculated the cost and determined as best as you can that it is God’s will—take action. Being cautious and being over cautious are two different things. Some Christians out of fear, are so over cautious, they never move through God’s ‘windows of opportunity’. If Holy Spirit has lead you to a ‘window of opportunity’, take action before it closes
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Do you have a ‘window of opportunity’? Have you determined as best you can that it is God’s will? The opportunity may not come your way again. Who knows for such a time as this it has opened. It is time to take action.