Jesus Is Back!
My son and daughter-in-law had TV news on Thursday morning as they were getting ready for the day. So my oldest granddaughter, 4 year-old Madison, was sitting on the floor watching the news. The story of Iran’s missile attack on the Golan Heights and Israel’s response was being reported and Maddie was trying to digest it.
Suddenly, she exclaimed, “Mom! Israel is attacking! JESUS IS BACK!"
I don’t know how her little mind put that together. Thanks to Bridge Kids, she has enough knowledge of the Bible to know that Jesus will return while his homeland will be under siege. So with the news of rockets flying in the mideast, she was sure it meant that Jesus was returning.
And oh, how I wish he was…and I long for him to!
When Nicole texted me the story above, I texted back this, "Wouldn’t that be wonderful? And you know, it’ll be little ones like her that he’ll inform first!"
After that short interaction, and still thinking of Madison’s exclamation, and still smiling, I walked into the church lobby to do some praying and I couldn’t keep myself from longing for Jesus’ return…and telling him so. “Lord, Jesus, I so look forward to your return. Please come back here and set things straight. We’re making a mess of everything!"
I know he’s delaying for good reason. His friend, the Apostle Peter wrote, “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 HCSB). Once he comes back, final judgement will begin and many of those who do not know him will have lost their opportunity. I get that, and because of it, I feel an urgency to share the Gospel and reach as many people with Jesus’ message as possible. But when I see the state of the world, every time I pass a homeless person asking for donations, every news report of shootings in Chicago, rape statistics in countries where women are horribly oppressed, pictures of children in third world countries with little to eat, and rumors of war around the world, I long for Jesus to come back and for his justice to be accomplished and his peace to take over.
Maddie wasn’t wrong. She’s just a little early. It’s going to happen…and I can’t wait!
Are you ready?