Jesus at 4:30AM in the Dark - Roy Daniel

Jesus at 4 : 30AM in the Dark

Mat 19:14  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Two days back we arrived at a Home Affairs in South Africa at 7AM to apply for a passport for our newborn and waited 2 hours to be told that half of us have to return home as they only take so many people per day. In fact, as they opened, they closed. The next morning 4:30AM we arrived to sit in line. There were already people there. We (my wife, baby and me) waited in the dark for 3 and half hours for them to open. It took 3 hours after opening to be finished applying (as third in line). You can see cellphone lights outside below.

One thing that is so important is to realize how God is not like people. We are not just a number to him. I mentioned before how 2  years back my wife was called a criminal and told that her baby was not born. They gave us 30 seconds, were angry and sent us away without help as (after seven hours in a line) they had no time for us. It took us a few weeks, lawyers, phone calls, etc. to fix their mistake of stamping Jerusala’s passport without putting her on their computer system. When you phone authorities in South Africa they almost never ever in a million years answer a phone or respond to queries even if it is phenomenally important paperwork that can split families physically and end up in being banned up to ten years if you don’t get certain documents.

I appreciate the hard work of police here, but I was once attacked on a farm by people with guns attempting to kill us all (including a 10 year old on property). After God intervened we phoned the police and even though they were only 15 minutes away. They came in 2 hours and did not get out of the car or even turn the car off. They left after a short conversation. Now, as I said, there are hard working, amazing people out there too. They have huge stress they endure to kindly serve us, but in a system like this it is so easy to feel like a number that no one really cares about individuals. You are small and they are big. Crowds matter and nothing else.

Let me tell you something wonderful. You are not a number to God! Over centuries in many countries kings hardly ever spoke to commoners. In some countries citizens would be killed for merely approaching a king too near or touching them. How precious that the greatest of all kings who made heaven and earth is not like that. Jesus had time for poor children (Math 19:14). Jesus allowed a fisherman to lean on his chest (John 13:23). Jesus had time to leave the crowds for blind beggars (Luke 18:35 – 43) even though people told them to be quiet. He even had time while hanging on a cross to help a dying thief (Luke 23:42-47). He  took the hands of a king to wash the feet of fishermen among others (John 13:1-17). He had time for demon possessed people and a man who was short, a thief and unpopular, who was sitting up in a tree (Luke 19:1-10). He knew the little man by name. He knows you by name too.

In the time of Paul it was amazing to be a citizen of Rome. Almost like being an American has privileges the last 50 years or so.

Act 22:27  Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

However, how glorious that we are citizens of heaven and that we as poor or rich, sick, blind, lame or dumb have direct access at any time and any where to the throne of God Almighty’s awesome presence. May we use this truth to spend much time at the feet of Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Phil 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

(Note – pol-it’-yoo-mah or conversation means community or citizenship)

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.