"Even So Come, Lord Jesus" (Part III)
The people of God can get so excited about the coming of the Lord. …And why wouldn’t they? “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (I Thes. 4:16-18). Wow! Even talking about rapture brings comfort.
We saw in our last month’s newsletter that we should “look for Him” to come (Heb. 9:28) but not to the point that we stop “occupying till He comes” (Lk. 19:13). We must carry out the business of the Lord, even when the going gets tough.
God had a perfect will concerning Jesus. Even prophets of old declared many truths concerning the coming Messiah. We read in Matthew 3 that Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized by him. John strongly protested that it was he who needed to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus replied, “…Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him” (Mt. 3:15 Amp.). We are called to fulfill “all righteousness”, as well. It might be fulfilled in our lives before the day ends. It might be another 30 years, but we are to keep working until Jesus comes or until our life ends on earth. Daily we are called to fulfill righteousness; right standing with God. Proverbs 3:5&6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” He directs our paths in righteousness. If I only am gazing at the Eastern skies and longing for Jesus to get me out of “this mess,” I certainly won’t be “occupying.” Jesus knew the tremendous importance of fulfilling the will of the Father. Now, we may miss the will of God many times, but praise the Lord, we can repent and know that we are clothed with the “robe of righteousness” that Jesus gave to us (Is. 61:10).
Paul says it all so well in Philippians one. Paul is longing for heaven but knows that he must “occupy” a little longer. “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again” (Phil. 1:23-26 Amp.).
Saints of God, Jesus is surely coming again. We are looking for Him. …But at the same time, our eyes are on the fields that are “white already to harvest”. Brethren, we’ve still got some sowing and reaping to do (Jn. 4:35-38).