Be Encouraged: Yahweh Has a Plan

The more time that passes, the closer we are to our Lord’s return. So, we should rejoice in knowing we are coming nearer than ever.

The Promise of a Messiah. Adam lived 930 years. That’s a long time after the fall in the garden. Adam and Eve were cursed but were also promised there would be two seeds, one whose heel would be bruised and another whose head would be bruised (Genesis 3:15). This promise offered redemption from the curse—particularly the redemption from death. With that in mind, imagine what was going through the minds of Adam and Eve when they had their first offspring. Perhaps they thought one of their two sons—Cain or Abel—would be this redeemer and thus fulfill the promise in such a short time.

Imagine how they felt when Cain shed Abel’s blood in the very first murder ever! To make matters worse, the culprit of this great tragedy was their other son! Perhaps that brought them to a point of reflection, remembering Yahweh’s promise and wondering how it could ever be fulfilled. They must have known redemption would have to wait, but for how long? This question would have remained with Adam right to his death. Adam saw four generations come into the world before he died—Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, and Lamech. Unfortunately, none of these men fulfilled the promise of Genesis 3:15 either. It is nice to think Adam knew Yahweh would keep His promise even if it did not come to pass in his lifetime.

The Messiah Finally Comes. Almost 3,000 years passed before Christ appeared to fulfill Yahweh’s promise in Genesis 3:15. The ultimate fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 will come when Christ returns to the earth to end death, set up his throne in Jerusalem, and make all things new again. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Similarly, “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.” (Revelation 22:3).

For this to happen, Yahweh has told us that there will be a sign pointing to the physical return of his son, Jesus, from heaven to the earth to redeem his people and establish the kingdom here on earth.

The Jews Return to the Land—A Sign of the Times. I remember prominent brothers speaking about Christ’s return back in 1986. They spoke of it as if it could happen at any moment. They reminded believers that current events indicated Christ’s imminent return to earth to establish the Kingdom. Jesus said the generation who witnessed these things would be alive to see his return: “this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.” (Luke 21:32 NKJV).

Jesus said this when speaking the parable of the fig tree. The fig tree symbolized Israel, and its budding symbolized its national rebirth when Israel became a nation in 1948. As Ezekiel said, “And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.” (Ezekiel 34:13).

We know the time is near, but we can become discouraged as we wait.

Being Prepared. We know Jesus said, “Of that day and hour no one knows.” (Matthew 24:36 NKJV), yet Christ still expects us to prepare for that special moment. As minutes, hours, days, and even years pass, it’s natural to get discouraged and even wonder if we somehow got it wrong. We might even begin to doubt Yahweh’s promise. Now is not the time to doubt. Jesus knew we might grow weary as time passed. He encouraged us to keep watching because it could happen at any moment. Yahweh also knew we would need encouragement to help us remain steadfast as the day approaches. The parable of the 10 virgins is one of these examples.

Five were wise and five were foolish. The five foolish ones did not have enough oil in their lamps. When the delayed bridegroom finally arrived, they were late looking for oil and missed entering through the door. However, the five wise virgins were prepared even though the bridegroom delayed and even though they also slept.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we read about those who will be working in the field when Christ comes, diligently watching for the return of Christ. The message for us is never to stop watching, no matter how tired we get. We must always be ready. “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40–42).

The silver lining is that the longer time passes, the closer we are to our Lord’s return. So, we should rejoice in knowing we are coming nearer than ever. Therefore, we must encourage one another toward that day and ensure our lamps are filled with oil the same as those of the five wise virgins.

Have We Become Discouraged? It’s fair to say we can become discouraged occasionally when something that is supposed to happen does not. In Genesis 6, even our Creator was grieved that He had created people who followed every imagination of their hearts. Having expectations and not seeing the promised outcome bear fruit in what we think is a timely manner can result in stress and discouragement. If Yahweh experiences discouragement where He has the power to control the outcome, when He allows man to get in the way of the planned outcome, how much more likely are we to experience discouragement because we have no control over the timing? One thing is certain—Yahweh keeps His promises.

Yahweh Keeps His Promises. It may seem counterintuitive to our fleshly mind that anything good can come out of waiting. Yet the prophet Isaiah tells us to use our spiritual mind and wait on Yahweh to do His bidding. The Bible is very clear: the LORD is so great that those who wait upon Him will not get tired but rather be renewed in their strength. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).

What a wonderful aspect of Yahweh’s fortitude He has given to His believers. How much more should we trust in Yahweh to keep His promise so long ago in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve—to send a deliverer to establish His Kingdom forever?

Scripture reinforces this theme in many places, but none so apparent as in Joshua 1:9. Joshua tells the people, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy Yahweh is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” He thus encourages us in everything we do, including waiting on Yahweh to act.

How can we encourage one another in the Last Days? The Bible repeats many messages that help remind us that Yahweh is working toward an ultimate goal of setting up his Kingdom at that time of his choosing. Again, in Genesis 6, Yahweh sent Noah at the right time. He was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah was a type of Christ; therefore, the story of Noah brings the reader’s mind back to that original promise made in the garden.

It also points forward in Scripture to the Messiah, Christ Jesus, who came, died, and will return to set up his Kingdom and bring the earth “rest.” Stories like those of Noah, Moses, and David—all the types of Christ and many other righteous faithful servants in the Bible—encourage us to remember that Yahweh will keep his promise. In addition, friends of like precious faith can also inspire us to remain steadfast while we wait. That is why choosing the right people to be around is so important.

We should choose friends who help us and encourage us to wait patiently for Christ’s return. Hebrews 10:25 tells us that we must come together regularly to “not forget” while waiting for his return. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Perseverance and Dedication. The testing of our faith is something Yahweh does to perfect us and to refine us. “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:3–4).

He wants us to work patiently and focus our whole being on where we want nothing else but to be redeemed and part of His plan. To do that, Yahweh gives us time to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” while we patiently wait for him. Galatians reinforces the idea that Yahweh sent His son to redeem those under the law at the right time. We can assume Yahweh will also do the same when His son returns. “But when the fulness of the time was come, Yahweh sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption.” (Galatians 4:4–5).

When the “fullness of time” comes, Christ will return. We should be encouraged Yahweh has a plan and He knows when it’s the right time.

Prayer, Supplication and Encouragement. As we wait for the return of Christ, we need to encourage one another so we do not become disillusioned. We can accomplish this goal in many practical ways. Obviously, first and foremost, prayer is vital. The children of Israel cried out to Yahweh many times, asking for deliverance from various enemies, and Yahweh always responded to His righteous servants. Asking Yahweh to send His son soon should be an everyday occurrence.

In addition, we can support one another by giving talks on current events and exhortations on what the Kingdom might be like to help encourage and reinforce the promise of Christ’s return. Time is running out for our Lord to return, if that generation that was alive and youthful in 1948 is quickly coming to an end, as well as those who saw Jerusalem designated as Israel’s capital. These events mean we must continue to read and reflect on the Scriptures daily, exhorting one another, praying constantly, meeting more often, and reminding each other of the return of Christ, as if today is the day the Lord will return. May he return soon.

Jared Keyes,
Ann Arbor Ecclesia, MI