Waiting

It seems like there is always something we are waiting for.  As a young mother it seemed like
I was always waiting for my child to reach that next milestone, crawling, walking, talking,
first day of school, driving, last day of school, getting married, it just goes on and on.  You
wait for special days, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas.  I'm always waiting for visits from
my kids!  Today I'm waiting for the arrival of two sweet friends for the weekend.  There is
always something to be anticipating.

As a child of the most high God there is something that we are all waiting for...the return
of the Lord Jesus Christ.  As life on this earth grows harder and sin seems more and more
to have dominion over creation, the return of the Lord becomes more precious to the
Christian.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 & 17  "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."

Are you anxiously awaiting the return of the Lord?  What a glorious day that will be,
when we are caught up to be forever with our wonderful Savior!

But what are you doing in the meantime?  We have not been left on this earth just to
twiddle our thumbs and watch the sky.  We have been left here for a purpose.

Titus 2:11 - 15  "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world;  looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  These things speak, and
exhort, and rebuke with all authority.  Let no man despise thee."

We have been left here to "speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority."  What
authority?  All we do is in the name of Jesus Christ.  We speak the truth in love;
exhort to repentance through Jesus blood;  and rebuke the workers of iniquity in
Jesus name.  Are you busy being about the "Father's business?"

Luke 2:49b  "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"

Even as a twelve year old boy, Jesus knew that the business of His Heavenly Father
was of upmost importance.  Of how much importance is it in our lives?  Does it fill
our waking moments and compel our actions throughout the day?  It should, for it
is what we have been left here to do.

Colossians 2:17 & 18  "And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church;  who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead:  that in all things He might have the pre-eminence."

Do we live each day giving Him the pre-eminence?  Does He have first place over our
families, desires, plans...over self?  If He doesn't, then there is something wrong.  Self
has a way of creeping in and taking over our thoughts and actions, yet these are the
two area's in our lives that must be consecrated to the Lord in order for Him to have
the pre-eminence in our lives.  We cannot be effective witnesses for the Lord if self
is still ruling our lives.

Colossians 3:1 - 4  "If ye then be risen with Christ;  seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things
above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with
Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with Him in glory."

Here again is something that I've mentioned before, what's in your heart will be
evident in your life.  You can't hide what you think on, it shows in your speech and
actions.  We are to be dead to the old man, the sinful nature.  Our lives are to be
a reflection of Christ.  What are our affections set on?  Things of this earth or the
things of God?

Matthew 6:19 - 21  "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth
and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through to steal:  For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also."

We are here to serve the Lord, to point others to Him for eternal life.  What better
treasure to lay up in heaven then other eternal souls that we have been able to point
to the precious Lamb of God.  The material things here on earth that we put so much
time, money and importance into, are going to fade and rust with time.  It is not eternal
treasure!  We really need to set our priorities straight on what is important.  Many people
spend a life time working hard to accumulate possessions, only to die and leave it all behind. 
If they were saved, they will stand before God with nothing to show for the life they lived. 
What an awful state to find oneself in.   If our treasure is on earth, then that is where our
hearts will be.  But if we are caught up in the things of God and eternity, then the treasure
of our hearts will line up accordingly.

In Mark chapter 10 we read about a man who came to Jesus and asked Him how to have
eternal life;

Mark 10:21  "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him,  One thing
thou lackest:  go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shall have treasure in heaven:  and come take up the cross, and follow me."

Jesus went straight to the "heart of the matter" with this man.  He knew where his heart
was...with his riches.  He was not willing to give up his riches to follow Christ.  Until we
are willing to give up all for Christ, we cannot be His followers...He requires our all.

Mark 10:22  "And he was sad at the saying, and went away grieved:  for he had
great possessions."

You cannot love this world and God at the same time, God must have the pre-eminence; 
who has the pre-eminence in your life will show where your heart is.

If your heart is set on Christ and things above, then you will be looking for His glorious
return in the clouds to catch us away.  In the meantime, don't be slack in the duties that
He has left us here to perform for Him, "speak, exhort, rebuke."  We have work to do while
we wait.

2 Corinthians 5:9 & 10  "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we
may be accepted of Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad."

When Jesus comes to reward His servants,

Whether it be noon or night,

Faithful to Him will He find us watching,

With our lamps all trimmed and bright?

 

If, at the dawn of the early morning,

He shall call us one by one;

When to the Lord we restore our talents,

Will He answer you - "Well done?"

 

Have we been true to the trust He left us?

Do we seek to do our best?

If in our hearts there is naught condemns us,

We shall have a glorious rest.

 

Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching,

In His glory they shall share;

If He shall come at the dawn or mid-night,

Will He find us watching there?

 

O can we say we are ready brother?

Ready for the soul's bright home?

Say, will He find you and me still watching,

Waiting, waiting when the Lord shall come?

 

                                                                    Fanny J. Crosby