Visions Take Time

Today I want to continue looking at King Solomon's obedience in building the temple. 2 Chronicles begins by telling the story of God asking Solomon what he wants and Solomon requesting only wisdom from God. The following chapters detail the attaining of the materials needed to properly construct the temple. 

2 Chronicles 3:2 reads, "He began to build on the second day of the second month in the FOURTH year of his reign." (emphasis mine)

Solomon's father had told him the plans for the temple years prior. He knew in his heart what he was called to do in life. Many of us are in a similar position. God has given us visions and dreams within our souls that know the calling we have on our lives. Some of you have seen yourselves working in foreign missions. Some have seen yourself writing a book. Others may have seen visions of standing on a stage while preaching to hundreds, if not thousands. In the same way Solomon KNEW his calling, so do you. 

I wonder if Solomon was ever frustrated or complained to God about the amount of time it was taking to see his God-given vision come to pass. After all, he was building the temple not for himself, but for God. There have been times in my life that I have been frustrated by what seems like a lack of progress in my God dream. I have cried out to God to remind Him I was doing "this" for Him! I'm sure I'm not the only person who has done this. 

Part of having wisdom, which Solomon definitely had, is knowing to trust in God's timing. Solomon knew that in order to build something of such significance there had to be groundwork laid first. The materials had to be gathered. The workers had to be properly in place and trained. Land had to be cleared (removing the old junk). The same is true with us when it comes to walking out God's call in our lives. We need to have the right tools. These can be emotional or physical tools. We need a support system of friends and spiritually like-minded individuals to help us on our journey. We also have to work through all the old junk in our lives in order to move forward in a God-minded manner. 

Just like the temple, it could take years before we begin to see the physical evidence of the work God is doing. Even once the work has begun, it could be years more before we see the completion of that work. 

"In his eleventh year in the eighth month, in the month of Bul, the temple was completed in every detail and according to every specification. So he built it in seven years." 1 Kings 6:38