Let’s imagine what it was like for the Israelites waiting for their High Priest to come back from the Holy of Holies. He had gone through the curtain on the Day of Atonement. Once a year and every year they wait with eager expectation. Of course he might not make it. He could die in there. So they wait. Then he appears and the celebrations can begin. Their sins have been covered. They are right before God, well for another year anyway. And it all spoke of something greater!
“…so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9 v 28)
Christ will return! He is coming again! He will appear a second time! And just like those who have died as followers of Him and ultimately face salvation as they go through the purifying fire of their deeds (see yesterday’s blog) so when Jesus comes again He will come to finalise salvation for us all.
We have been saved, we are being saved and we will be saved when He comes again (or we die first). This fulfilment of salvation is for those who are waiting for him. This is an assumption that we will be waiting. It is to wait with eager expectation. We know He is coming and we are at the place of watching the curtain to move a little to show the High Priest is on his way out to us. We know our sin has been dealt with and this is just going to be a time of the celebration of being saved.
This is how we live. This is how we survive the storms of life. When we are sick, when we endure insecurities and the many problems this life can bring to us, we are waiting, our Saviour is coming. He will save us. No more tears, no more pain, no more wars, no more division, manipulation, lies and deceit, all gone. We will be finally set free from such evils. This is how we live. With full anticipation of the return of our Saviour. This is how we live, isn’t it?
Recently a Pastor-friend who lives thousands of miles away from me created a strategic plan so that if one of their senior members of the team suddenly died everyone would know what to do. Within 3 weeks that strategic plan was put into effect as sadly that is exactly what happened.
Can you imagine what it would be like if the strategic plans that we are surrounded by and the many vision statements that we marvel in contain the truth that Jesus is on His way?
To live so that when He comes we will not be embarrassed.
To live so that our witness becomes more focused and more pressing.
To live so that our assets and finances are reflective in His coming, we know about kingdom investments.
Perhaps anticipation needs to return to our lives and to our churches? To live with hope, a longing and an expectancy that the curtain is moving and Jesus is very soon stepping back into this world of His.
Missions Paul 