Waiting for the Lord’s Return

You have probably heard about Jesus returning at the end of time, as we know it. Some people speak of a terrifying judgement... some speak of bodies rising from the dead... some speak of a rapture where the faithful are taken home instantly and the unfaithful remain here... and the list goes on. So what are we meant to think? The Bible tells us that we are to wait for Christ’s return, but what does it mean to wait? I would compare it to having special company come over. You can have the meal cooking, the table set, the bathroom cleaned, etc., but usually you are not just sitting around waiting for them to come. There is always more to do. Maybe you are wiping down counters, doing more clean up, straightening the table one more time.... Waiting, in that sense, is not idleness. It is actively anticipating the arrival and wanting to have everything done that needs to be done. When Jesus calls us to wait for His return, it is meant in an active sense. Each day we should be about God’s work as we wait His return. Some of that may have to do with our spiritual growth... studying God’s word, spending time in prayer, putting our gifts into practice in service to God. Some of that waiting is actively reaching out to others so that they might be ready too. As far as when and how the end will take place? There are so many versions, all supported by God’s word, to an extent. Does it matter about the specific details? According to God’s word, that times will come so that the faithful would not fall away on account of the worlds condition. In other words, at that point, you will either be a believer or you will be lost. No one will be straddling the fence anymore. The only thing that will matter is that Jesus will return and that only believers will be saved. We can argue how it will happen, but that is not as important as having submitted to Jesus. No one will be saved by knowing how... only by faith. What about when? We have many events that will happen before Jesus return... earth quakes, famines, wars, and rumors or wars, etc. The only thing, I believe, that hasn’t been fulfilled yet is how bad it will get, but during Covid, we saw how quickly things change. Jesus tells us no on except the Father knows. Lord, we know that only those who walk by faith will be saved. Help us to focus on the basics and share that with others too. Amen