“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.””
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The days of the Son of man
Am I looking for a sign that the days of the Son of man have come? Am I searching for the kingdom of God in this earth so that I may be prepared for His coming? (Luke 17:21) As a believer, I know that the kingdom of God is not a physical place but a spiritual dwelling with myself and all those who poses the Holy Spirit within them. The world may be waiting for a great revival or awakening of believers but God is quietly watching what the world cannot see, our hearts. The kingdom of God is already here and the Lord is doing His work within me. As the days of the Son of man, the return of our Savior and His reign over the earth for a thousand years fast approaches, I need to be ready and waiting with oil in my lamp.
“Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”
Luke 17:22-25 NKJV
Look over here
In the world today, there are already many who will point to one place or person and distract even the believers as we wait and seek the return of our Lord. I need to stay focused on what the Bible clearly says to do and not let my eyes roam to every barking dog or baying wolf that tries to distract me. Remember, the kingdom of God is not a place but a state of wake within His people. When I accept the gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit lives within me and I am now a part of that kingdom.
Nothing can remove me from my salvation or take away my hope of heaven. No earthly fear or distraction can un-save me, but it can keep me from doing as God commanded me and staying vigilant in these last days. Worry over a sickness or fear of political oppression have no place in a believers life. The Bible tells me to be aware, not to be afraid or worried. I also can’t be distracted by the false narratives or misleading depictions of the world today. My hope isn’t in this world but in the one my Lord has gone to prepare for me.
A flash of lightning
If the coming of my Lord will happen like a flash of lightning, it will be quick, without pomp and circumstance, then I cannot wait to prepare myself for it’s coming. Just as a bride prepares for her wedding, or a pregnant woman prepares for her child, I must live in this moment as if my Lord’s return will be in the next.
“Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.””
The right kind of sacrifice
Dedicating my life to Christ requires sacrifice. Like all good things, no reward comes without it. But what am I sacrificing? It’s the things of this world that we cannot take with us. Wealth, titles, property, or people, striving to retain these things at all costs, will ultimately cost me all that I have. What I instead should strive to retain, is a constant relationship with my Lord and Savior, a desire to seek after him in every aspect of my life.
And then there was one
When the day comes, and the Lord returns for his church, I will not be left behind. I have hope in the promise of His word and confidence in the truth of His salvation. there is peace in knowing that he is in control, that he loves me, that he is coming for me. Whatever dangers I may face, whatever trials I may endure, the suffering of this world is only temporary, but eternity with my God in heaven is worth every sacrifice.
Crafty time
today's craft is a simple bookmark pattern of the Son emerging from behind a cloud. This set of bookmarks contain the above verses to help us remember that Jesus is coming back for his church and the Holy Spirit here with us even now.