Well, I am on my
final lap, the final week, the end is near. My wife will be returning at the
end of the week of writing this and everything will be back to normal again
(thank God!!).
In preparation
for her return I’ve set out to set the house in order, and to take care of
myself too. I’ve cleaned, cooked, changed the sheets and fixed some things in
the house. I’ve also shaved, cut my nails and so many other things. I’ve even
done some things she would have had to force me to do if she were around and I
was excited to do it too; all in preparation for her glorious return.
As I was
engaging in one of these activities, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a very similar
statement made by Peter
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it
comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial
bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will
be laid bare. Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort
of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and Godliness, while
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God?........... Therefore,
dear friend, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at
peace, without spot or blemish when you come into his presence…” 2 Peter
3:10-11;14(NET)
Just as I
prepare for my wife’s return with much fanfare, so should we prepare for the
return of our Lord, as I have kept the house and my body just because she’s
coming back, we keep ourselves pure in anticipation for the Lord’s return. Not
because this will in anyway affect our salvation; it is by God’s grace we have
been saved through faith. It is because we love our Lord. If I do not do any of
the things mentioned, she wouldn’t divorce me, she probably won’t be angry
either. She’d just get it done after resting appropriately (including the ones
she has to force me to do). As a matter
of fact, I’m quite certain that she will still notice some things I didn’t
quite get right, didn’t do to her taste, or didn’t do at all and she’ll rectify
it. In the same way, when our Lord
returns, he’s not going to start pointing out all the evil we have done and
just keep us at arm’s length until we get our act together. Instead if there
are still any defects in our characters and mind set, he will fix it. He will
draw us near and make us new, he will bring us to understand how truly like him
we are. One thing that I’m most assured of is the replacement of our bodies. We
will all be given new bodies, just like his. Bodies that cannot die, that
cannot be sick and that are not bound by time and space (1 Cor. 15: 50-54). We will be just as he is.
In the mean time
we prepare for the Lord’s return, we know he will come back and we want to
“stay in shape” for him. I find it disturbing that many believers around me
seem uniformed of this return. While I do not take this as a sort of excuse for
escapism, I think it is important we know these things. I think it’s important
we realize that this single life we live is not all there is. It helps us to
withstand persecution, to endure suffering for the truth and to remain upright
in this increasingly evil world. It also helps us to pinpoint the source of our
longing and nostalgia; we want to meet the Lord. When we come to truly believe
he’s coming back, our posture will change. Even though we know Christ will
still be engaged in some mind renewal when he arrives, we still live sanctified
and sober lives. This admonition is strewn all over the epistles.
Lord Jesus, we
wait with bated breath for your return, confidently expecting the replacement of
our Mortal Bodies and the renewal of our minds to the realities of your Grace.
Till then, lead us deeper into the truth of your sanctification and
righteousness. Amen
Grace be with
you
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