Awaiting His Return

In case you have not heard, my daughter, my little princess, my baby girl, young, Abigail is engaged to be married. It is an exciting time in her life. She hasn’t quit talking about her engagement, her wedding plans, and all things bridal since Calvin proposed—and while I am concerned and hyperventilating—my daughter’s excitement is understandable and a good sign. Think about what it would be like if she got engaged, they set a date, and then never talked about it again. What would you think about their marriage and their relationship if the day before the wedding they had forgotten they were supposed to be married the next day? If she was hesitant to talk about Calvin with any of her friends or family, if she went shopping for a white dress—but avoided bridal shops because she didn’t want anyone to know she was getting married, what would you think? I think anyone who cared about her would be worried and concerned if that was her behavior.

This makes me wonder if we should be worried and concerned about some of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Scripture plainly talks about our being the Bride of Christ (Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:19, Luke 5:34, John 3:29, Ephesians 5:22-33, 2 Corinthians 11:2-4). So, if we, as Christians individually and as the Church as a whole are the betrothed of Christ—His future bride—shouldn’t we be excited? Shouldn’t our time be consumed by plans, preparations, and lifestyle changes to make us ready for that special day when He returns? In fact that is the whole point of the parable of the 10 Virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13. In that parable Jesus cautions us to be prepared for His return. I wonder how many of us have lost the excitement, the initial feelings of devotion, the overwhelming desire of commitment that we first had when we came to realize that Jesus really loved us. That His love was not for some abstract religious concept—but that while on the cross, Jesus paid a price for my own redemption and your own redemption. When you first realize that you need redemption and that He freely offers it I don’t know how you can’t be overwhelmed and “cut to the heart” as the first Christians in Acts 2 were. What if every Christian was as excited for Christ’s return as a newly engaged young bride? What would worship be like? What would the church be like? What would the world see in us?

Let us always make sure we are prepared, ready and waiting His return. Making sure to tell everyone we know of our commitment to Him and the eternal life we have received because of it.