REVELATION 22:20 – He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
THEME OF THE DAY: MAYBE TODAY, LORD, MAYBE TODAY. A seasoned pastor who had labored faithfully and diligently for many years in the Lord’s service was feeling the wear and tear of Gospel ministry on his mind, heart, and body. Tired was an understatement. Yet, he pressed on with joy and zeal despite the difficulties. When asked what kept him going when the road was hard, he would reply, “The return of my Lord.” And he described his morning prayer before he got out of bed and engaged any human being. He would look upward and whisper, “Maybe today, Lord, maybe today.” This pastor knew the key to perseverance, not only in vocational ministry, but as a Christian. It was the looking for the Lord’s coming daily by applying two important portions of scripture centering on that event of all events.
The Apostle Paul would emphasize the importance of exercising a resolved will to direct the heart and mind to the things of heaven and the appearance of Jesus – If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3). It is this fixation that helps us live ready for the return of Jesus; a readiness that the Lord exhorts us to maintain all the days of our lives – But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:36-44).
The second scripture surely the seasoned pastor modeled comes from the pen of the Apostle John – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure (1 John 3:1-3). To ponder and look for Christ’s coming promotes what salvation is for and will be completed in glory – conformity to the image of our Savior. And it is being shaped in His image in this life that enables us to be used effectively for Him in this life.
So, we should start our day like our old pastor friend, “Maybe today, Lord, maybe today.” It will make all the difference how we live the Christian life.
PRAYER: “Father, keep my eyes on the sky, my heart on Your Son’s return, and my life vigilant in keeping Your Word.”
QUOTE: “The difficulties in life are not to be complained of but to intensify our longing for the next life.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim