Reading religious articles written in local papers often stirs up my curiosity. Someone said that curiosity is what killed the cat. That just may be the truth, I do not know.

One particular part of an article written by a pastor in another area of the state made this statement. ("First, in order to become `fishers of men," the fishermen had to follow Jesus. This implies that Jesus was going to show them how to reach men with the gospel. When we look at His life, it is clear that He did in deed make every effort to teach those around Him. Whether it was by using His miraculous powers to capture the attention of His audience (see Mark 2:8-12), or taking advantage of the opportunities that each day afforded Him (see John 4:27), Jesus made every effort to reach the lost. In fact, He said: "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Not only did Jesus fish for men, He left an example for others to follow!

Does God need opportunity to accomplish anything he desires? This is a simple question and requires only one word to answer. The answer is: NO! Simple answer, is it not? Who gave God the opportunity to create the heaven and the earth? Men were not there.

The word "opportunity" is found five times in the scriptures. No where does the word imply a hint that God needs opportunity to save His people. What kind of a god does one believe in to even think such?

Job said in 23:13, "But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth." In this particular verse, God sets forth His counsel and in no way does he need the counsels of men to reach the desired end of His mind and purpose. Isaiah said in 46:9-11, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."

The five verses where the word "opportunity" is found in the scriptures are: Matthew 26:16, Luke 22:6, and Galatians 6:10, Philippians 4:10, and Hebrews 11:15. In Matthew and Luke this word deals with Judas Iscariot and his seeking opportunity to betray Jesus. The word opportunity as I have mentioned found in Matthew 26:16 and Luke 22:6, has a different meaning than the other three verses. Here it simply means a "seasonable time." This is not God seeking an opportunity to do His will but a man seeking opportunity.

In Galatians 6:10, Notice Paul's statement in verses 9-10, "And LET US not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, LET US do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Once again this deals with men. We are not to faint or grow weary in well doing. Why? Because, in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Brethren, there may be times that while marching to Zion we want to sit down, as it is often said, give up, or throw the towel into the ring. But Paul is reassuring us of a promise which is the work of God and that is: "...in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." When does a "due" time come? It is at a time suitable to the matter in hand. We do not reap before sowing. When OUR harvest time comes which may be different in every detail from another, rest assured it is a time suitable to the matter in hand.

In Philippians 4:9-10, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me bath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity." Here Paul is saying that these brethren lacked opportunity in the care of him. They were careful about the situation but did not have the opportunity to do their hearts desire. Once again, this is not God seeking opportunity but men. The word opportunity as used in this verse is different than the other four. Here it is teaching us that they in the Church of the Philippians lacked something and that was simply an opportunity to care for Paul.

We read in the book of Hebrews 11:15, "And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned."  In this verse the word "opportunity" is used the same as in Galatians 6:10.

God does not seek an opportunity to do His work, "... and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth." One more verse to think on is found in Daniel 4:35: “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

Comment: “To those who did not have the sweet privilege of walking with Elder Clark; they have missed an opportunity to follow a wonderful example of being a servant of Christ: Even in times when he bore many burdens of his own, he still endeavored to humbly serve the Lord's saints and His Church.”

God grant him rest, joy and peace in Heaven above! --Editor