November 29 - Waiting and Hastening

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ has been a controversial topic in the Christian church for many years. Peter reminded the first century believers that the Day of the Lord had been predicted in the Old Testament by the holy prophets. It was also confirmed by the Lord Jesus through the New Testament apostles. Although scoffers openly contradicted the prophecy and teaching of the Second Coming, Christians are to make this event central to their lives. Other than believing its certainty, we are also taking on two positions: that of waiting and of hastening.

Waiting for the day of Jesus’ coming is to express our faith in God to deliver His promise. Although in waiting, the element of time is always involved. However, when we wait for the Lord, we surpass the time concept. Jesus lives in eternity and to Him, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. We cannot judge God for His slowness but rather we have to submit to His timetable and not ours. What we consider as slowness is actually God’s patience, wishing none should perish but all should reach repentance.

Other than the passive stance of waiting, we can also actively anticipate the coming of the Lord by bringing more into repentance. Evangelism is the only way of hastening the coming of the Lord. The Lord said so Himself, “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Since the world was created by the Word of God and is held by the Word, Jesus’ Word about the end time will hold: When the gospel is preached to the ends of the world, He is going to come back to earth.

Waiting also involves preparing ourselves for the Second Coming on our. We have to be ready for the Lord by living in holiness and godliness. When the new heavens and new earth come, only righteousness can live in it. We must be diligent in getting rid of our spots or blemishes and then we can be ready for Christ’s coming. Our task at hand is to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Do you sometimes wonder when Christ will come back? Have you evaluated yourself whether you are ready to receive Him? If Christ is back this moment, what are some of the things you have not completed? Take some time to think about these things and bring them to the Lord.

In order not to lose your stability, you must keep growing in the Lord. Have you been growing recently? Is your life completely holy or are you still harboring sin? Are you actively bringing others to Christ and hastening the return of the Lord?