Oftentimes in the Scriptures and particularly in the Old Testament we come across the phrase; “And it came to pass…” which is just an expression of time that replaces ‘when,’ ‘whenever’ ‘after,’ ‘on,’ ‘as’ ‘at that time’ or ‘in those days.’ These prepositions marked times and periods, phases and seasons that were important for the narrative. One phrase that would fittingly replace ‘And it came to pass...’ would be ‘It happened ...’ All those events happened in the past, way back when, and recorded a factual occurrence for our benefit.
It is equally important to note that they happened in the lives of individuals, people whom God used to speak to us - his chosen people. There is not a character in the Bible that we cannot identify with in our Christian walk. These stories that occurred and were later recorded in the Bible speak volumes. They teach us how to live, they comfort and strengthen us. They sum up the very essence of our existence and give meaning to our lives - something we should look up to and hope for. Moreover, they serve as steppingstones on which to build our faith as we discover the intricacies of life’s journey on earth.
“And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord.” (Genesis 4:3) This offering was not pleasing to God because all offerings from that time on required the shedding of blood – a foreshadow of the shed-blood of the Lamb of God on the cross of Calvary for all of humanity.
“And it came to pass when Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, ‘My son....’ He intended to bless him as his first born although God had revealed to Rebecca that the older brother would serve the younger. By the time he wanted to bless him even, Esau the elder brother had already sold his birthright to his younger brother for a bowl of hot soup.
How do you relate to the Bible? Do you consider it a boring storybook of little or no relevance? Take another look because you must have got it all wrong. Because while it records what had come and is past, it equally tells of what is yet to come. Most of what is recorded has taken place already; only the events that should mark the end times are yet to be fulfilled. If what went before happened, and are a reality today to the extent that we are inspired by it, what is to come will one day come to pass in the fullness of time.
The stages we go through in life are pointers to where we are coming from or where we are going to. A man is defined by his circumstances and his environment. What influence they have had on him and its outcome can either bend or break him. If he survives the ordeal, he is triumphant and he can lift his head up high.
“And it came to pass when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the first-born in Egypt, both man and animal.” (Exodus 13:15) Pharaoh was dealing with a superior power and that was made manifest.
“And it came to pass when Joseph came to his brothers that they stripped him of his robe.” (Genesis 37:23) This is a sign of things to come. They stripped Jesus of his robes as well.
And it shall come to pass in the last days…
Has it come to pass in your life? Have you passed the stage you were at when you first gave your life to Christ? Or are you still at point zero. If you have made some headway, if at some stage in your life something has given way, then you are set on forging ahead. Do not look back, as the adage says ‘forward ever backward never.’ We were created for progress and development not stagnation. If certain things in your life and mine have not come to pass then we need to take stock and seek remedies for the hindrances or the mountains that have been holding us and them back. Recognising it is the first step to its eradication.
New wine in old wineskins is prone to imminent rupture. The strength of the new wine will take its toll on the old. Therefore we need new wineskins to match that of the new wine. (Matthew 9:17)
We look back only to assess how far we have gone, the years we have clocked. We are sensitive to the time lapse because time is not always on our side. A crown is awaiting us. We each would like to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21)
Are you at a standstill?
What will your name be remembered for? Will your name take up some space in the annals of the Church of Jesus Christ or will it drift into oblivion for playing it low key? In God’s kingdom there is no room for onlookers or ‘handfolders’ but doers of the Word. Earthly glories will fade away. All the medals and trophies we have paraded, not one will be remembered after we depart this world. They will all come to pass. On the contrary, the Word of God will not. ‘The grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.’ (Isaiah 40:8)
Like Mary Magdala, let us all seek to take our rightful places in the kingdom. Jesus said of her; “I tell you the truth wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Matthew 26:13) Everywhere this story is told her name will be mentioned because of her stance in preparing Jesus for burial. Let it be said of you that it came to pass that you (Reader) performed a worthy deed.
Thus whatever was to have come to pass did come to pass. So it shall be that whatever is to come to pass in our lives will be referred to as having come to pass.
We also will exit this world but would it be said that … “and it came to pass that (your name) …..”