He is coming again…

 

We soon celebrate the arrival of God in the flesh, marveling that He chose to come as a baby, grow up as we do, and then die for our sins. But He is coming again. And why is it taking such a long time?

In Charnock’s wonderful book, the author writes a long section on God’s patience. He illustrates from Bible accounts such as in 1 Samuel where we are told that even though God spared the Amalekites a long time after the injury committed against the Israelites in their passage out of Egypt to Canaan, but when he came to deal with them, he would destroy them  quickly and utterly. His patience has limits. Isaiah describes this in vivid language:

For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant. I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, “You are our gods.” (Isaiah 42:14–17)

This morning’s news tells of one city in the middle east that is nearly out of water. This is just another description of disasters everywhere in the world. Earthquakes, floods, freak weather, and more. Are we in a phase where God is saying, “I’ve had enough”? Some polls say that we are in a “post secular” period where people are again thinking that God is real and involved in this world. Are such thoughts prompted by these many disasters and the rising evil in human behavior?

The NT has hints that this messy world is telling us that Jesus will come soon. While some scoff, others look again at what He says will happen:

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15–18)

PRAY: Lord, You clearly say no one knows the day or the hour, but You do give signs of the times. You also tell Your people how to live, not in fear, or as if we need to worry, but to behave as usual. I’m to respect those who mentor me, be at peace with all Christians, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all, seeking to do good to everyone. Also continue to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, heed the Holy Spirit, listen to what You say, value godliness and avoid evil. You will set me apart for Yourself and keep me blameless until You come. You are faithful and You will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:12–25)  
And I am certain of this that You will work together all things for good, for those who belong to You and are being transformed into Your image. We are justified and glorified. If You are for us, who can be against us? You gave up Your life and gave it to me — You will graciously give me all things! (Romans 8:28–32) And even though I long to see Your face, when that time will happen is up to You.