What joy and blessing will come to that faithful servant when the master comes home to find him serving with excellence! Matthew 24:46 (TPT)
Ever since the disciples walked with Jesus in Jerusalem, Christians have wanted to know when He will return. We feel a strong urge to figure out the exact day and hour, even though Jesus said no one will know the answer (Matthew 24:36). Still, we keep searching for clues in world events—wars, rumors of wars, famine, and chaos—hoping to fit the pieces together. Each generation thinks that if they just solve the puzzle, the answer will become clear, like unfolding an old paper map.
While there isn’t anything wrong with the question, why were the disciples, and why are we so intent on getting to the bottom of this mystery? Would we live differently if we actually knew the date of His return? And if that is the case, how would we conduct ourselves differently?
If you have ever been challenged to lose weight, finish a project, or complete an advanced degree, you know the value of incentive. Waypoints that give concrete feedback about progress and the distance to finish. Personally, those are helpful when exercising. If my muscles are screaming and I want to quit, but I see the clock shows I am at seventy-five percent, there is an incentive to finish. And so, as believers, we are always looking at the hands on the clock, hoping to discern how much longer until… Jesus comes to rescue us from this awful place called earth with all of its misery and injustice.
But what if the real issue is the question itself? Maybe we’re focused on something we can’t know, instead of paying attention to what God has clearly asked us to do. We look forward to His return (Philippians 3:20), but our main job now is to live out our purpose until He comes (Luke 19:13).
So what are the clear mandates for these days? God didn’t waste any time setting the course for Adam and Eve. In Genesis 1:26, the instruction was to be fruitful, multiply and take dominion. This original directive has not gone away; it is still our assignment until His glory fills the earth. (Habakkuk 2:14) Last I checked, there are a few places that still need a bit of a glory upgrade! In fact, Romans 8:22 reveals that the earth groans as if in childbirth. Why? It is waiting for the sons of God to step up and manifest the kingdom – in other words, fulfilling the original instructions given to Adam and Eve.
The whole idea of glory and groaning can feel a bit too broad to get our heads around. More simply and practically, God’s clear mandates for us include: living justly and humbly before God (Micah 6:8); loving our enemies (Matthew 5:44); healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, and relieving suffering (Matthew 10:8); and making disciples (Matthew 28:19). Jesus also said we are called to do even greater things than he did (John 14:12)—a challenging yet clear directive.
When the children of Israel found themselves in exile in Babylon, they were eager to return home. Their longing for the comfort of the familiar made the words of Jeremiah the prophet even more disturbing. This season of living away from Jerusalem was going to be longer than they expected. The encouragement to them was that they have a family, build a house, and invest in their community. The promise was that if they did, things would go well.
Like Israel, we are more interested in getting “home” than staying here. But, like them, if we give our attention to living instead of leaving, the stay will be much easier and more profitable. If you have ever rented a place to live, you know there are restrictions, and often the pictures and touches that make it feel like home never see the light of day. Why? Because it is too much effort. This same mindset can keep us from engaging the world and living our faith. If the end is near, what is the point?
If we sincerely want Jesus to come back soon for a church without spot or wrinkle, to a place that looks more like heaven than hell because the glory of God is seen across the earth, then perhaps this is how we invite Him to come quickly. Not by making videos about the “end times” but by living up to the assignment that is clearly stated.
With that in mind, the question for today is, “Lord, how do I partner with you to see your kingdom come and your will be done on earth”? Honestly, if we followed God around today, doing what He is doing and saying what He is saying, we wouldn’t have time to worry about anything else. And, our lives would be full of moments when heaven invades earth, kind of like the thing we all want to see – Jesus coming.