Expect It

Last weekend we were expecting my sister and her family to visit.  We didn’t know exactly what time they would arrive, but I expected it would be around noon.  I had a bit more house cleaning to do in preparation for their visit, and I needed to pick up a few groceries, but I thought I had plenty of time.  I was out walking and missed a text from her at 7:14am that stated, “leaving now.”  Imagine my surprise when they pulled into my yard an hour later - and my children’s surprise to be awakened by their cousins!  

Sometimes we know an event is supposed to occur, but we are surprised when it actually happens, or by the means in which it happens.  The opening verses of Matthew describe such a scenario.  The Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Micah prophesied, “the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel;” and “But you, Bethlehem...out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.”  Isaiah was written around 175BC, and Micah between 735 and 700BC.  Ample notification was given.  When Jesus was actually born, God gave a sign, a star, visible sign for all the world to see.  It was there, but the notification went unnoticed, but not by everyone, just most people. 

A couple of weeks ago, my weekly message was called Unexpected.  When Jesus was born, it was unexpected - although it was prophesied and announced.  The Word of God also tells us that Jesus will return from Heaven to retrieve the righteous and take them to Heaven. This event, too, will be unexpected - although we know it will happen.  When it happens, we all will know. “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Mat 24:27)  ​

To have been surprised by His initial coming held no consequence.  To be surprised by his return will have consequences.  I say “surprised,” as in unprepared.  When my sister arrived, I was not prepared, I still had dishes to wash, and bathrooms to clean.  I knew she was coming, but she arrived before I could do the things I needed to do.  We know that Jesus is coming, but we do not know when. If He arrives and we are not ready, there will be consequences.  The consequence will be more than a little embarrassment, it will be death.  We don’t know when, but, as Luke said, “No word from God will ever fail.”  His arrival will be unexpected, but we should expect it.  

We must understand and believe Jesus’ purpose.  Jesus is the Son of God, and also the Son of Man.  He is fully man, as we see from his lineage outlined in Matthew 1.  He is fully God, as He was not conceived by man and woman, but by the Holy Spirit.  As John 1:1-4 explains, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”  

Because mankind is sinful, and  “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart [is] only evil all the time,” (Gen. 6:5) we desperately need a savior.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  (John 3:16-17)

What should we do as we wait expectantly?  First and foremost - and I will leave you to ponder on this until next week - we must. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 2:38) Paul offers these instructions in Romans 10:9-11 ”If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”  We must confess our sins.  If we fail to realize and admit that we are sinners in need of a savior, then our sin will be ours to bear at the time of Jesus’ return - which could be today or 5 years from now, or 10,000 years from now.  We don’t know when, but we know He will come.  If we are not ready, we will be put to shame. 

Expect it.  Have you repented of your sins?  Are you trying to live a live that is pleasing until Jesus.  Are you trying to live like Jesus lived - most certainly you will fall short, but a repentant heart, one that yields to God, is convicted of wrong, one that asks forgiveness and consciously seeks to let his light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify his Father in Heaven is the first step.  Expect it.  He will come again.  If you want to leave this Earth with Jesus and live out eternity in Heaven, your time has come.  If you want to discuss this decision, reach out to me or another believer you know and trust.  Tune in next week, for Expect It - Part 2, as there is more. Amen. 

Expect It - it could be this week!
I hope everyone found a blessing in these words.  Amen.
Kim

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