The late founder of Wal-Mart, Sam Walton, was an experienced pilot. At times, he would fly around the country in his small plane and drop in on one of his stores to see how things were going. Management seldom knew when the boss might decide to show up, and this must have kept them vigilant.
You and I do not know the day or the hour that our Lord will come, but we do know, by faith, that He will, as the Hebrews' writer states: So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation (Hebrews 9:28, NKJV). Do you live with the expectation and the anticipation that Jesus could come in the next hour? Or, do you not think much about it? The inspired writers of the New Testament had the former mindset. In writing to Christians in Rome, Paul said, And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light (Romans 13:11-12). The apostle Peter wrote, But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers (1 Peter 4:7).
Therefore, since the early Christians lived with the expectation that the Lord's coming might be near, how much more should we, who live two thousand years later? Today may be the day that we see our Lord coming on the clouds (Revelation 1:7). The temptation for us is to put this thought out of our minds and believe that we always have tomorrow. This will tempt us to procrastinate. But if we believed the Lord could return in the next hour, how many relationships might be reconciled that have been severed among brethren? How many Bible studies would be conducted with the lost? How full would the front pew be with penitent souls at the singing of the invitation song? How many Christians would return to worship on Sunday night? Simply put, this mindset would change many lives.
But not only would it produce a spirit of vigilance in us, it should also inspire hope. New Testament Christians did not look upon the Lord's return with dread, but with joyful anticipation. Paul wrote, Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). Peter says that we will experience an overabundance of joy: But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy (1 Peter 4:13). When that day comes, I can picture people joyfully proclaiming, "No more funerals to attend! No more pain to endure! No more bad news to hear! No more tears to shed!" Yes, all will be peace and joy forevermore in the presence of our Father and Savior, and in the company of the faithful.
If that day is today, are you ready to meet the Lord? Do you hope He will appear today? Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).
Brotherly, Jamie
