Do you live your life with somedays? I think most of us do which is pretty normal. It is fun to look forward and dream of things that may or may not happen someday.
However, I think sometimes we as Christians fall into the “someday Jesus will return” trap. Jesus returning for his bride, the church, is absolute truth. The Bible clearly states that He will.
John 14:2-3 (NKJV) “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
However, the Bible also says that no one knows when this will be.
Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, but my Father only.”
If we believe that Jesus will return someday, what should our posture be in the meantime?
Many Christians, unfortunately, go through life feeling powerless against the darkness in the world. They talk about the return of the Lord as their escape hatch. There is nothing wrong with longing or looking forward to the return of the Lord. Indeed, the Bible describes that day as great and glorious.
Luke 21:27-28 (TPT) “And at last, when you see how the Son of Man comes-surrounded with a cloud, with great power and miracles, in the radiance of his splendor, and with great glory and praises-it will make you jump for joy! For the time of your full transformation has arrived.”
Even so, there is work to be done before that wonderful day. God is waiting and longing for us to partner with Him to bring His purposes to earth before that day. In Jesus’s parting words to His disciples before He ascends into heaven, He gives them and by extension us, what is commonly referred to as the great commission.
Matthew 28:19-20 (TPT) “Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”
Jesus says these words with a plan (The Holy Spirit) to equip us and send us out in His power.
There are many parables in the Bible that tell us, as believers, we should remain watchful and vigilant to Jesus’ return. We should be actively preparing for His coming back. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins.
There are ten maidens who take their oil lamps and go outside to meet the bridegroom. Five are ill-prepared and take no extra oil. Five are prepared and take extra oil. The bridegroom does not come when expected, and they all grow drowsy and fall asleep. In the middle of the night, they are awakened by shouts that the bridegroom is there. The maidens who have no extra oil find themselves going out in search of oil. The five prepared maidens are escorted to the wedding feast with the bridegroom, while the others miss out and are eventually turned away.
Also, on the heels of this parable is the one about talents also found in Matthew 25. Many people use this parable to discuss financial responsibility. However, if we look at this parable in the context that Jesus tells it right after the story of the ten maidens, it takes on another meaning as well.
The parable involves a rich man going away for a long time. He calls three of his servants together and hands them some money (or talents). Two of the servants are wise with what they have been given and double the man’s money. However, the third servant digs a hole and buries his money, content to hide it away for what he deems safekeeping. When the man returns, he is pleased with the first two servants and knows he can entrust them with more. On the other hand, he is quite displeased with the third servant, calling him wicked and lazy, and sends him away.
What if this parable serves as a warning to us as Christians not to hide until Jesus comes back? All of us have been given gifts and talents and the Lord not only has blessed us with those things but expects us to partner with Him in using them. In fact, according to the parable, it is to our detriment if we do hide away and not use those talents.
In 2 Peter 3, Peter is speaking in a letter to Christians who are living in times of intense persecution. Emperor Nero is blaming the Christians for a destructive fire in Rome and increased his attacks on them. Peter himself while writing this letter likely knows he will soon be executed. In addition, many false teachers are attempting to infiltrate the church with claims that Christians need not lead a life of holiness by misrepresenting God’s grace.
In response, Peter tells Christians the importance of living a pure, peaceful life. And in regards to Jesus’ returning, he says in verse 9, “This means that contrary to man’s perspective, the Lord is not late with his promise to return, as some measure lateness. But rather, his “delay” simply reveals his loving patience toward you, because he does not want anyone to perish but all to come to repentance.”
Then in verse 11 Peter says, “Since all these things are on the verge of being dismantled, don’t you see how vital it is to live a holy life? We must be consumed with godliness while we anticipate and help to speed up the coming of the day of God…”
Peter is teaching here that our intimacy with God and then our willingness to partner with Him can speed up or delay the coming of the Lord. The key to changing the world is intimacy with God. The Lord’s heart is that none shall perish. If that is the Lord’s heart, shouldn’t that be our heart and position as well?
The last few years have presented various challenges for most people. Very few people have escaped personal and global challenges that have not been seen before. However, when it gets darker, that is when the light shines brighter. What if the Lord has allowed the darkness that has always been there to surface, so He can deal with it? What if the Lord has allowed the darkness to surface, so we as Christians know what we are fighting?
What if you were born for such as time as this? What if the Lord has placed in your hand gifts and talents best used during this time period? What if instead of looking at the Lord coming back as the Christian escape hatch, we realize He has equipped us for such an occasion?
How would that make you think differently? How would that make you use your gifts and talents in a different way?
The Lord is coming back for His bride. We should, as the Bible instructs us, prepare for that time and look forward to His return. However, He is returning for a victorious bride. Not a bride that is afraid of the evil around her. Not a bride that is hiding. Jesus calls us to be overcomers in Him.
The Lord loves you more than you can imagine. If you are struggling with fear, ask the Lord for His amazing peace. If you are struggling with purpose, ask the Lord to show you how you are uniquely and beautifully made. God longs for an intimate relationship with you. Allow Him to speak heart-to-heart with you. It will change you!
Check out these other great posts on Someday.
Your Someday Will Come by Lisa Crowder
Make Someday Happen by Ashley Olivine
Simple Is Better – The “Some Day” that Doesn’t Ever Quite Happen by Dianne Vielhuber