How long is Gods soon? Hebrews 11:13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Sometimes it can be a very long time but the people that are written about in Hebrews 11 all had one thing in common. They saw it from a distance not the now. They looked to the future hope because they all figured out this life was only temporary. Not only did they look to the future but they taught their children and their children taught their children on down the line to keep their eyes on the future hope that was to come.
God told Noah to build a large boat so he could save his family from a flood. Noah and his family didn't even know what a rain was much less a flood. God told Abraham he was going to be the father of many nations and people that numbered as many as the stars in heaven. He finally had his son of promise when he was 100 years old, but it was a start. Samuel anointed a small young shepherd boy of no significant importance to be the King of Israel one day and maybe 20-30 years later he was crowned. Isaiah was told of a little baby to be born through a virgin girl to be the Savior of the human race. About 600 years later there he was, humbly born in a stable.
Yes Gods soon can be a long time, but it is Gods soon. Jesus said Revelation 22:20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" and the Apostle John answered with these words Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! That was way back 2000 years ago and He still hasn't come back. So what is holding Him back? Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. He is still waiting for people to come. But look at what else Jesus has to say. Luke 18:8 But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?" Jesus is waiting for people to come to Him in faith because so many people give up on Gods timing and walk away from Him, giving up on faith.
Did the Old testament saints have more faith than us? No! When you read the stories in the Old Testament about Adam,Noah, Abraham, Samuel and David you also get to read about the failures of their lives plus the reason for the flood, the Tower of babel and the fall of King Saul plus all of the Kings of Israel. And how can you neglect the story of Esau who sells his birthright for a bowl of soup or Elijah crying out from that cave, am I the only one that serves you! Then Gods answer comes to him of having 5000 reserved for Him. But when you think of it 5000 is still not good when you think of the millions of people that were against Him. When Noah climbed into the ark, how many were saved. 8. How many were left out to drown? Every human being on earth. So we can see faith wasn't all that fantastic in the Old testament world either. The Israelis didn't even want to follow Moses, all they wanted to do was complain. But God still says soon!
The whole point is this, Luke 12:40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected." This is why Isaiah wrote those words in Isaiah 56: 1 Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good. God wants us to be ready at all times for whatever we are waiting for in our lives, whether it is the return of Christ or you need a good job. Gods soon is still Gods soon. So when Christ returns will He find faith in you or will you have given up? So keep this on your hearts and minds at all times, Gods soon is as soon as God is ready.
So true! We live in such a microwave society that everyone wants it now. Wants it and now being the two key ingredients of our current culture. We need revival, we need God to strive once again with men, but then that is blaming God for the problem. Perhaps and most likely it will be when men's worlds fall completely apart that they will cry out to God and He will rescue them out of pity and love for this screwed up human race. God's live is perfect and He is so secure He is able to let us fry till we cry.... out to Him. Then He once again proves His Godliness by rescuing dying sinners.
ReplyDelete