What are you waiting for?
‘Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.’ — James 5:7–8
‘Do something, by God’s help, to make heaven more full and hell more empty.’ — J. C. Ryle
Huge news: there are only 132 sleeps until Christmas!
I know it’s too early to talk about the big day (unless you work in TK Maxx, in which case you’ve probably already stocked the shelves!).
But in a few months, we’ll start counting down the days in our Advent calendars—verse by verse, or chocolate by chocolate.
When we’re looking forward to something, we see each day as one step closer.
And as followers of Jesus, we should view every day as one day closer to the greatest day—not Christmas, but Jesus’ return.
Longing for the Lord to come
When we see wars, injustice, poverty and pain all around us, we long for Jesus’ return, when He will bring ultimate peace, justice and a perfect future to all who trust in Him.
When we experience pain and suffering, we feel the ache of our broken world, and we know this isn’t how things are supposed to be.
It’s not just humans who feel this ache. Romans 8 tells us that creation groans too.
‘For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.’ — Romans 8:19–21
This world is fallen, broken and perishing. But God has promised that He will make all things new and set us free from death and decay.
As we meet Him in the new heavens and the new earth, He will wipe away every tear we’ve shed because of the sin and suffering in our world. There will be no more crying or mourning or pain, because we will be with our Father and enjoy Him in sinless perfection forever.
But not everyone can look forward to Jesus’ return. Those who have rejected Him won’t enjoy His goodness and peace. Each day that passes brings them closer to being separated from Jesus forever.
Our Father loves our friends and family more than we ever could, and He longs to save them, forgive them, and bring them into a relationship with Him. And He has included us in His plan of redemption as witnesses of what He has done through Jesus.
Learning to actively wait for Him
Jesus calls us to actively wait for His return.
“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.” — Luke 12:35–36
This isn’t like waiting at home for a package, where you just sit and watch how many stops away it is on the Evri app. Active waiting is a bit like how we approach Christmas.
In December, many of us are constantly thinking about and preparing for the big day itself. We spend time decorating, buying presents and planning to see our loved ones, as we get ready for Christmas Day, the day we’re longing for.
This is more like the active waiting Jesus describes.
We set our minds on Him and the things of Heaven, not of earth.
We walk closely with Him in His Word, in prayer and in worship every day.
We keep meeting with His people—our family in Christ—encouraging and spurring each other on.
We seek to share the good news with those around us, so that they might hear, meet and find life in Jesus.
The world is waiting to hear about Him
There are so many things that hold us back from making the most of every opportunity to share Jesus with those we love.
We worry that bringing up our faith will make things awkward. We’re scared of rejection and we’re afraid that a poorly handled conversation might turn someone away from Jesus forever.
But when we fix our eyes on Jesus’ return, and remind ourselves that He is coming back, we see our lives through the right perspective.
Every day is one day closer to meeting Jesus—and on that day, any rejection and pain we have experienced for Him will fade away in His presence.
So don’t give up! Whether they realise it or not, our friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances are longing for the life, hope and joy that only Jesus can provide. Don’t let fear overcome your love for them.
Picture what it could be like to worship Jesus with them in glory, and let that spur you on.
Trust in Him, who goes with you as you share about Him with others.
Live your days on earth in light of eternity.
‘Do something, by God’s help, to make heaven more full and hell more empty.’ — J. C. Ryle
How might you actively wait for Jesus’ return today?
Love,
Ruth