Seven Lessons I Have Learned: Lesson #3 – Don’t even try to guess when Christ will return. It doesn’t matter.
It seems to be true that every generation has been able to hope that their generation would be the last.
Read Time: 1 minute
We may hope and pray that it will be soon. It certainly seems like it has to be very soon. But our definition of “soon” may be different from God’s definition. It may be that longsuffering, patient, and merciful God may choose to allow things to go on in order that more may be saved.
It seems to be true that every generation has been able to hope that their generation would be the last.
It just doesn’t matter. Our job is not to predict the unpredictable. Our job is to be always ready, always living so that, whenever it is, whether today, or long after we die, either way, we are living faithful lives, serving others, raising children in the Lord, being good examples, showing God’s love to those around us, sharing our hope, and the joy of salvation.
I think Bible prophecy has several purposes. I don’t think those purposes include knowing when the return will be. Even Jesus himself, the greatest Bible student ever, didn’t know. The genius Bible student, Isaac Newton, couldn’t figure it out. John Thomas made a good try, but was off by over a century, and counting. I do not think we are meant to know.
In my lifetime, it has seemed always very imminent, always next year. It may be this year. It may also not be for another century, or even (imminent though it seems) centuries.
For me, and many of us whose health is failing, it will be soon regardless. For any of us, it might be today. So, don’t wait for tomorrow to get ready.
But we can’t just wait around for Jesus to come back and fix everything. Don’t bury your talents. We need to be working, tending to the Lord’s vineyard, to give him the fruit of it. We are not going to fix the world, but there are a lot of people we can help. There is lots to do in whatever time we have left. Instead of trying to puzzle out the unknowable, get to work!
Our late brother, John MacDougall,
Portage Ecclesia, IN,
2021