March 10, 2003 

GOD'S "ALLERBESTE" TIME

Johann Sebastian Bach was very moved when his uncle Tobias died in 1707. He expressed his feelings in a funeral cantata entitled "God's Time Is the Very Best Time." The point is that what we see as an "untimely" death would look right on time if we could see from God's perspective.

Here are some excerpts from his very thoughtful lyrics:

"God's own time is the very best of times.
In him, living, moving, we exist, as long as he wills.
In him shall we die at the right time, when he wills."

"Ah, Lord, teach us to remember that our death is certain,
that we might gain wisdom."

"Set ready your house, for you will perish and not continue living!"

"This is the ancient law: man, you must perish."

After these stark warnings, Bach turns to the gospel truths that make the anticipation of death different for Christians:

"Yes, come, Lord Jesus!" "Into your hands do I now commit my soul; for you have redeemed me, Lord, you my faithful God."

"This day you will be with me in paradise."

Finally, Bach settles into the peaceful resignation of a believer with this beautiful hymn:

"In peace and joy do I depart,
as God does will it;
Consoled am I in heart and mind,
Calm and quiet.
As God to me his promise gave,
My death is changed to slumber.
"Glory, laud, praise and majesty
To You, God, Father, and Son be given,
The Holy Ghost, with these names!
May godly strength make us triumph
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

When Bach wrote this, death seemed totally beyond human control. An appendix attack was invariably fatal. Even an abscessed tooth could be the beginning of the end. Today, we have surgeries, antibiotics, transplants, mechanical respirators, heart defibrillators, etc., etc. This gives us the illusion of controlling our destiny. But we still die. And we still die in God's time. This is a sure thing.

Maybe we need to relearn from Bach the secret of simple trust in the truth that "God's Time Is the Very Best Time."

I like the German adjective Bach used, that we translate by "very best." It is "allerbeste"—all-best. It means the exact, precise, perfect moment. His time is best to the ultimate, rather than just "the best we can hope for."

We may debate with God: "Lord, just a few more years. This isn't the right time. There are some things I'd really like to do. I promise I'll use the added years to serve and glorify you."

The Lord seems to be answering: "That's a pipe dream. I want you to serve and glorify me here, where we can both enjoy it more. If I leave you there, you'll mess up the little good you've accomplished. Come on home!"

God's time is indeed the "allerbeste" time.

–Pastor George Van Alstine