…as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Why all this effort? Jude would have us building ourselves up in holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping ourselves in God’s love. And then what? We wait???
Yes, we wait.
We are waiting for something …
To what can we compare this waiting? Waiting feels lonely. It feels lost. Waiting feels like it will never end. Waiting gives us too much time to think.
What does it feel like when the waiting is over? The one you love comes through the door. The party begins. You get good news from the doctor. Finally, you can breathe, eat, sit down, and relax. When the waiting is over there is a sense of relief, joy, happiness.
Now imagine that everything good that happens when the waiting is over is multiplied a thousand million times. Imagine that at the moment when your joy, happiness, relief, and excitement are at their peak, the clock stops. The clock no longer ticks, but happiness and joy continue. Forever.
That is a child’s crayon sketch of what eternity with Jesus is like. It is not much more than a scribble. A clumsy attempt to draw a picture of something that I can barely imagine.
The point is, the waiting is worth it.
Application: Don’t waste your waiting. Use every moment to honor the man who sacrificed everything so that you can enjoy eternity with your Creator.
Food for Thought: Based on the writings of James 2 (faith without works is dead), is it possible to be bored while we wait? Why or why not?
I am sure it is possible, but only if we are not doing what we are called to do. Using our unique gifts to glorify Christ, seeking opportunities to share and serve, making disciples of all nations, loving God and others, practicing all the “one another’s” in Scripture, enjoying the Lord through worship – we have a lot to do in a short time. Jesus brings not only eternal life, but a meaningful, purposeful and full life. John 10: 11.
I meant John 10: 10, not 10:11. Although the two verses go well together.
I always tell my guy’s, our Christian lives are based on doing, as Rich says, focus on the do’s and you won’t have time for the don’ts.
Matthew 6:33, Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
Matthew 28:19-20, Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Great comments! Thank you!
Isn’t it amazing that we are left in this world and given opportunity to work for the harvest that our Father has raised up. And yet, the world is broken. There are obstacles to be overcome. Both in other people and in ourselves. When we are with Jesus in heaven, life will be much different. Now, in this world, we have a unique opportunity for exercising courage and faith.
Well said Jeff!
👍🏻