The promise...

At the heart of Christology is a promise: Jesus will return.

No matter when and how, this is sure: He will return. This promise never fails to prompt an expectation in our hearts and the urgency to respond. Many Christians wonder what the implications of this promise are and whose words of the future they should believe. Contemplation on this fact also causes us to reflect on our own lifestyles, religion and aspirations, as well as challenges the way we have planned to live our lives. Furthermore, we become more aware of the perils of lukewarm faith, wordliness and falling away from God's paths of righteousness.

God is a God of purpose. Therefore, while the Enemy often takes advantage of our uncertainties regarding this promise, our failures and fears, I believe that even the suspense is God-intended. No matter what view each earnest, submissive Christian holds onto regarding the second coming of Christ, the suspense is perhaps a form of God's grace to us as we wait.

First, the suspense seems to humble us so that we would look to God as we wrestle with a crucial dialectic to find the balance between seeking growth in the present and getting in position for the future. When we look to God, we find a reason to live to the hilt of every circumstance we are in today while looking forward to tomorrow. Therefore, we would endure in hope.

Second, the suspense should rouse the fear of the Lord in our hearts as we are reminded of His sovereignty and holiness. Like Isaiah, when we become painfully aware of how short we fall of God's glory, He meets our remorse with grace by reminding us of what Jesus has done for us the first time He came. We remember Christ - the true source for being refashioned - and therefore we hold in balance yet another dialectic tension between our statuses of sinners and saints through faith in Christ.

Third, the suspense should keep us on our toes in fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ, knowing that faithfulness is expected of us whether or not we are sent to people who treat us well. It would be very difficult to be faithful to God's calling if we are not able to love and therefore, we work hard to deny our silken selves. Ultimately, this quest drives us to first seek God. To teach us to love, God enables us to know Him - as He is Love (1 John 4:8).

In conclusion, I believe that the suspense of Christ's returning is God's grace to Christians as we learn hope, faith and love that enable us to persevere in these last days... and finally, these enable us to await the fulfilling of the Great Promise with eager expectation.