John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Luke 12:35-37 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
Jesus is coming back. Jesus asks me to live with the expectation of His imminent return. This was “good news” to the early disciples, that they would not be enduring the hardships of the Christian faith for no reason. Jesus, their Savior and Lord, would return to bring them home to be with Him one day.
I struggle to live my “everyday” with this in my mind. Jesus’ promise seems so long ago. Life would be so much easier if I would just give in to the current of the culture, that pressure that states, “live for yourself; get what you can get”. But the conviction of my life is still to put God first, bringing glory to Him by the fruit of a life lived for Him.
How do I do it? How do I keep my focus on Jesus’ return, while living in a hostile environment to my faith? I was reminded, recently, of a situation that happened during my time as a school principal. As I think about the event I am comforted in my waiting. I have more patience and peace. Imagine yourself in this story.
You’re a student in your favorite class with your favorite teacher. One day the teacher is called out of the classroom to take care of something. She gives all the students an individual activity to keep them busy. The class initially waits quietly, following the teacher’s expectations. There are quiet murmurs as the students wait for the teacher’s quick return.
The teacher doesn’t return as soon as the pupils anticipate. Students start to talk openly. Jokes are told. Insults are thrown about. What began as mild conversation changes to raucous laughter, and things get out of control.
People start getting up from their seats and moving around the classroom. Groups start to form. Paper wads are thrown. Someone sits on the top of the teacher’s desk and begins to look through her papers. Students begin to draw things on the board. The classroom is turning into chaos. On a dare, a few students open the first-floor window and jump outside.
You make a suggestion that the class should go back to doing what the teacher told them to do. Some consider what you say. Others ignore you. Your frustration builds. Your disobedient peers are ruining your favorite class. You endure it.
You don’t scream, yell, or call them names. You don’t take justice into your own hands. You sit there, knowing that soon all things will go back to the way they should be. All you have to do it wait.
You know what is coming, but your misbehaving classmates seem to have forgotten. Soon, the door will open, and the teacher will return. Those that are causing disruption and trouble will be disciplined. The pleasure of the class will return. Things will be made right, again.
Jesus is coming back. All the wrongs and injustices we have witnessed will be dealt with. Justice will return. Evil will be punished. Good will be restored. I just have to wait, with the strength God provides, doing what the Master asks me to do in the meantime.
We need to be ready, doing what our Master has instructed us to do. It is challenging to be faithful to this task. He seems to be taking forever. But, that day will come. Be ready.
