Where would we be if our favorite hero didn’t show up just in the nick of time? Or how many ordinary agreements would  become historical events if the key piece of information didn’t show up in the nick of time? And even more importantly, how could we survive if those steaks weren’t pulled off the flaming grill just in the nick of time?

Our books, movies, video games and even music would be quite ordinary and boring without the arrival of you can fill in the blank (_______) in the nick of time. Superman, The Green Hornet, Jack Bower and even Lassie would be useless to us if “in the nick of time” were removed from their plots.

Truth be told we live for and fantasize about in the nick of time moments. From our early girlhood dreams of our knight in shining armor rescuing us to a young man’s daydream quest to thwart the assassination plot, it is the “in the nick of time” element that awakens all our senses and makes the dreams worth dreaming. I mean, come on! What good is a dream if the prince arrives days ahead of when the damsel is to be married to the bad guy.

The phrase, “in the nick of time”, means “just in time, at the precise moment”, according to Phrase Finder. It came into use in the 16th century to signify someone being on time for an event. Originally, the phrase was “in the nick.” A nick referred to the notches placed on a tally stick to measure time or to keep score. “Of time” was added years later and was, at first, considered redundant. Gee, imagine that…the English language being redundant.

God is a true in the nick of time God! He does everything “at the precise moment” He intends for it to be done. But unlike, Lassie and Superman, He isn’t chasing through unknown hoops or looking for phones booths to accomplish His just in the nick of time plans. He knows exactly what, where, when and how the precise moment will be executed. I would save myself a lot of hand wringing and pill popping if I could just let that simple truth permeate my soul and daily living.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22: 12,13

In other words, He, Jesus Christ, is coming back to claim His own, me, just in the nick of time!