It is the FIFA World Cup 2022 season, and I am watching as many games as possible. I was planning to tell you some of the spiritual and deeply emotional thoughts that have crossed my mind as I watched these games. However, after I read the first few sentences of Rick Joyner’s Word for the Week (see: https://publications.morningstarministries.org/word-for-the-week/choices-part-28), I felt that God wanted me to write about what I touched on last Sunday: our calling to wait for Jesus’ return.
The Bible tells us that we “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). This simply means that after we got born again, the next natural and automatic thing for us is to look forward, and wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is my opinion that is informed by casual observation of Christians that much of the Church is not really waiting for the Lord’s coming! This is very sad because Jesus is coming back to take with Him to heaven only those Christians who are waiting for Him. As it is written, “To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). This scripture debunks the popular teaching that the entire Church (all Christians), will be raptured and gathered to the Lord at His coming. The truth of the matter is that only the Christians who are really waiting for Jesus will be taken up together with Him when He comes again. The rest will be left behind to experience the wrath of God.
How do we wait for Jesus? The Bible says that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13). We therefore wait for Jesus by keeping ourselves spiritually pure, cleansing ourselves from all filthiness, just as a bride waits in preparation for the groom. We wait for the Lord by living in righteousness. For this you know, that “the unrighteous Christians will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9).
“Therefore ‘come out from among them (the sinners: Christians and non-Christians) and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.’” (1 Corinthians 6:17-18)
Brethren, let us be true ‘waiters’ for Jesus. When He returns He will take us with Him, “and thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17b). Amen.
God bless you.
PS: I encourage you to also read Rick Joyner’s Word for the Week. I think it shows that we are on the right track as Last Adam Tabernacle.