GlocalNet

As we enter this Christmas season and as Jesus Followers we reflect on the birth of Christ, it’s powerful for us.  We see in the manger not just a little baby - but the incarnation - God in the flesh.  We feel a sense of hope and anticipation of the future and of the world.  But I wonder . . . . if Jesus were to return today. . . .

Would we recognize him? 

He wasn’t recognized by that many people his first coming.  It was to shepherds, the lowest in the society at that time.  They were the poorest and certainly not men who ever dreamed they would see the birth of the Messiah.  He’s born in a hole in the hill - literally - a place where shepherds and others would put their animals.  Two or three years pass before the Wise men from the East - astrologers - found him following the Star over Bethlehem.  He doesn’t enter the world in a place, in a way, or in a time that anyone would expect him.  I’m not so sure we know all we think we do about his second coming.  If so many - especially the religious - missed his first coming, why do we think we have it down on his second coming? 

Would we be ready for him?

I was asked a couple of weeks ago by some young people in Africa if he came and they had a bad thought or were doing anything wrong at all - when he came would he take them?  I told them, God looks at the heart and he knows where they are with him.  If God didn’t “take them” it wouldn’t be because Jesus came at the wrong moment for them - but that their heart is wrong.  Grace means grace.  I think the biggest challenge of being ready for God today and his return isn’t the “big sins” but the pace of life and how we crowd God out and fight to work him in to all of comings and goings.  To be ready means my heart is right with God.  To be ready means I am obeying God on a life-style basis.  To be ready means I am living in communion with God, the creator, my brother, and my king.  To be ready to means to be at rest and at peace and at home with God in my heart and in my life regardless of my circumstances.  When you go through something tough - and you’ve been obedient - and it’s still tough - you have peace and you’re OK.  Not that you like it, not that you want to experience it again - but you know God is with you, and in the end that is all that matters. 

Would we be glad - for the right reasons?

A lot of people want God to come for a lot of reasons.  I used to pray before taking exams on occasion when I hadn’t studied - “Come Lord Jesus come.”  Other times, like right before I got married, or before I got to do something fun, “Jesus come back, but not just yet - let me first do this.”  Those are all bad reasons.  He isn’t coming to fit into our schedules, agenda, and desire - but for his glory and for his revelation to the world of who he is.  Whenever he comes it will be fine.  We feel pain - we want him to come.  We see things we want in this life - we want him to wait.  Our staff had lunch the other day and one of the pastors had been overseas - he got in late the night before and his 2 year old son was asleep, so he didn’t see him until he came to the restaurant - when the boy saw his Dad he had to look twice - and then with excitement.  I think that’s how Jesus will come - we’ll see him, but it will take a few minutes to get it - then we will be flooded by joy.

So, as we face these holidays and look at so many manger scenes - let’s not forget about when Jesus came, who he is to us, and the fact that he is coming again - and think of it - not in fear or in speculation about how he’s going to do it - but just reflect on the massiveness of who he is, and the simplicity of who he is, and his place in your heart and life.