Is the Second Coming coming?

The conflict in Lebanon and Israel is terrible. Israel is seeking to protect itself from enemies whose stated purpose is Israel’s destruction and whose behavior is consistent with their purpose. The enemy is not governmental but terroristic. They have hidden themselves among the population of Lebanon – some who support their purpose, but many who do not. Unfortunately, shells and rockets cannot differentiate between the two types of Lebanese.

Is this conflict the beginning of the end? Is the coming of Christ around the corner?

No doubt, the conflict should cause us to pay closer attention to issues at stake. Even if this is not the beginning of a count down to the Lord’s return, the Scripture clearly tells us that “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Rom. 13:11) His coming may or may not be tomorrow, but his coming is a day closer at the very least. Whenever the Lord comes, the mission of believers remains the same. Paul declared to the Thessalonian believers: For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy! (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20) The thing that we will have to offer the Lord when He returns are those who have trusted Him by way of our witness. Trouble should reemphasize for us the main mission: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Two characteristics of maturity

A church can be an unforgiving place. Let’s face it. We expect more out of people in the church than we do in other places. After all, we are believers in Jesus Christ and to use a phrase “ought to know better”. The problem is that we are warriors who are in the midst of spiritual battles; we are sinners who have been redeemed but not yet perfected; and we are all at different stages of spiritual maturity. One of our deacon’s wives stated it perfectly this week when she said to me, “I know that every church has its problems.”

How do we survive as the family of God when we know that these problems aren’t going to go away? It’s no surprise that the Lord tells us how to handle it in His Word. Here’s what He says, “14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”(1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)

Two characteristics more than any others help us to be the family of God: patience and kindness. When we become exasperated at something in the life of the church, we immediately need to check where we register on the patience meter. Am I upset because I expect someone to be further along spiritually than they are? When someone upsets us, we immediately need to check where we register on the kindness meter. Do I have plans to “get back” at someone? Have I learned to be kind for Christ’s sake even when I’ve been hurt? A church full of believers who have learned to be patient and kind is a church equipped to confront the needs of lost, selfish people.