God’s Promise – Real for Sure?
scoffers will come, … They will say, “Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2Pet 3:3-4)
This is a season to encourage one another to trust God’s promises in our daily lives, but also for the far future. Jesus said, “I will come back and take you to be with me…”; at his ascension, angels appeared and encourage the ‘men of Galilee’ that Jesus would come back in the same way. Paul wrote that the Lord himself will come down from heaven, and John from his revelations several times quoted the Lord Jesus Christ saying, ‘I am coming soon’. There are numerous Scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments pointing to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, but there are some people who doubt it. The study of the events of the last days and end times prophecy is called Eschatology. This also involves the question of the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.
From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, we learn that “The eschatological interest of early believers was no mere fringe to their religious experience, but the very heart of its inspiration. … The coming world was not to be the product of natural development but of a Divine interposition arresting the process of history.” The early Church having received the witness of the eyewitnesses and apostles lived in constant anticipation of Christ’s second coming. John’s Revelation came at a time when some were starting to grow weary of waiting; they started questioning if this promised second coming was really going to happen. Have you questioned like this before? Or, even worse, have you met scoffers who just make fun of God’s promise as predicted in 2Pet 3:3-4?
No need to doubt: whether in our time or later, the day will surely come, and our faith should remain firm – He is only giving time and chance for more people to turn away from sin and repent. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven … and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1Thess 4:16-17)
Trusting God’s promise does not just end in the heart but must be lived out in all aspects of life like forthcoming exams. Those who live in eager anticipation of Christ are called upon to faithful stewardship and watchful prayer. It is not about just sitting there and waiting, but rather working to the highest profitability using the resources God has put in our care. He will gladly congratulate and reward the ‘good and faithful’ servants and admit them into a wonderful holiday and fellowship (Matt 25:23).
God bless you all.