The Benefits of Christ in This Life

[Sung Psalm: 102]

In Hosea 13 the prophet says that the time had come for Israel. “The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is kept in store. The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son, for at the right time he does not present himself at the opening of the womb.”

Several of you are approaching “the right time” – the pangs of childbirth. What would happen if you went into labor and your child decided not to come?! That would be a most unwise son! When you reach that most uncomfortable stage of pregnancy, where you cannot find a good position to sleep in – the one thing that keeps you going is that this will end! The right time is approaching.

And when the right time comes, your child will present himself at the opening.

As bad as an unwise child might be, our problem is worse.

The right time has come – and the baby is ready – but you are too weak to do anything about it.

You lay there, exhausted – labor pains wracking your body – but you have no strength left.
You cannot push.
You cannot breathe.

All you can do is lay there and die.

That is the picture of 2 Kings 19 – and that is the picture that Paul takes over in Romans 5:6

We could do nothing to save ourselves. We could not give birth to salvation.

For yet Christ, while we were still weak, at the right time, for the ungodly – he died.