No Baby's Cry (Part 3 of 3 parts)

When Jesus left the church and stated that He would be taking "a far journey", He never told us how far, or for how long. We are still looking and waiting for His return nearly two thousand years later.

In view of this long waiting period, anyone can imagine the strain this would place upon the duty of watchfulness. It would become natural to become disbelieving and disenchanted and disillusioned. The longer the time lapse, the easier it would be to discount the possibility of any return at all, and the harder it would be to maintain a state of alertness. It seems accurate to state that, from this conclusion alone, that is, the long time span of Jesus' absence, the church would have disbanded and disintegrated long ago if there were not something living and vital in the Christian faith!

Something unearthly beats in the breasts of the saints. Something active fills their minds. Something as new and fresh as the morning sun brings hope and assurance. An inner voice softly repeats, "He is coming back...and it may be today." Watching for His imminent return in no way turns on a nearly 2,000 year promise alone. It rests upon a hope as fresh as a new breath of air. It results from a confidence as new as each sunrise. It stands upon a living conviction that throbs and pulsates with every exposure to its truth.

Active watchfulness without this repletion, this recurring infusion of advent vitality, would be an utter impossibility. The point is that any time the church hears the voice of the Holy Spirit, He speaks of Jesus' soon return. So the saints of 2009 are not predicating their state of alertness on 2,000 year old information alone. Every time we tune in to heaven's throne room, the message and atmosphere is that "He is coming back...and soon!"

Somebody suggested that when Jesus does come from heaven with a shout (SEE 1 Thessalonians 4:16) that His shout would be just one word..."ENOUGH!" This is just one person's speculation, but it is worth our consideration. "Enough" heartache, pain and sorrow. "Enough" broken things: broken hearts and broken homes and broken marriages. "Enough" rejection and lonliness. "Enough" deception and lying and false accusations. "Enough" temptation. "Enough" crying and misery. "Enough" misunderstandings. "Enough" disappointments and broken dreams. "Enough" discouragement. "Enough" sickness and suffering and death.

"Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!"