Part 2 – Watch; Be on Alert, He comes Quickly!
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.”[1]
These last days, it seems the first coming was so long ago. No one today actually knows anyone who was alive at the first coming. There are no stories of great-grandpa so and so who could recount eyewitness testimony of Jesus being crucified. The crucifixion is not something that is fresh on the minds of everyday Christians.
But think back to the first century church. It was on their minds. They would meet together and maybe an eyewitness would be invited to speak. This special speaker would be introduced, “Please welcome Thomas known as Didymus, he place his hand in the side of the Lord then cried out, ‘My Lord and My God.’ Thomas come tell everyone about your experience of walking through Judea with Jesus.”
To the first century church, the crucifixion was real. It was a major event in their lives. People were around who were witnesses to the events. The bible says 500 people saw the Lord after the resurrection. It was as real as any major event of our generation. People remember where they were when President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas; we remember where we were on 9/11. In the first century, people remember where they were at the crucifixion; the crucifixion was something that was fresh in their minds.
And what was even more amazing is that the return was expected to happen at any time. These first century Christians lived in a mindset that Jesus had just been crucified and could return at any moment. I think one of my favorite sayings is, “Live like Jesus died last night, and as if He were coming back tonight.” For first century Christians this is the life they led. The crucifixion was real. For them it was as if it had just happened. And at the same time they were expectant that the return could happen at any time.
However, the gap of two thousand years has erased what should be fresh on our minds. We do not live today with the reality of Jesus dying on the cross and being raised again. Peter may have captured it best when he wrote; “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation’.”[2] Today the world lives as if there is no God.
Peter tells us not to let the passing of time deaden our senses as to the return of the Lord. God’s patience should not be counted as His slackness, but instead we should see His patience as an opportunity to turn to Him. No longer should we live lives that tread upon the cross as if it had never happened. True faith is a life transformed by the power of God and a heart that is ever contemplating His crucifixion like it took place last night and eyes fixed on Him as if He were returning tonight.
This is my prayer for you; "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."[3] Jesus asked us to be on alert. The Greek word to be on alert or to watch in this verse is Agrupneo which means to have sleeplessness over a coming event; it means to be watchful as if waiting expectantly. This expectant event is the coming of the King of Kings where He destroys His enemies and rescues those who love Him. So watch and be on alert, that you may escape all these things which are about to take place.
No comments:
Post a Comment