Impatiently Awaiting

Yes, it's official - Monday's snow pushed me beyond my breaking point. I have never been more ready for springtime and consistently warmer temperatures in all my life! Now don't get me wrong, I generally enjoy a good snowfall in December or January. However, when I get a taste of spring like we've had on occasion during February and March, I don't want to go back to bitter cold after that. And this year, it seems as though we have been on a roller coaster ride of cold days, warm days, and back to snow days. I have grown to truly despise snow. Spring turkey season will be here soon, and when I see flocks of birds out in the fields feeding and strutting on sunny mornings this time of year, I begin anticipating that spring will soon be here. But every time I think spring is upon us, here comes another round of snow. I suppose that spring is one of those things that we know is eventually coming, and we will know it's here once it is fully upon us, but until that time, there is always a chance that we could get another late winter rogue snow storm to throw us off balance again and delay its arrival.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 (NASB)
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.


In thinking back on recent days when I was so confident that spring was near, only for it to snow and slow its arrival once more, I was reminded of the imminent second coming of Jesus, and the 'end of the age'. It is recorded in the Book of Matthew how Jesus explains to the disciples what must take place before "the end of the age" can and will come. In reality, the types of events that Jesus says must occur have been happening throughout the world from the day that He said this, up until right now. Even today, Russia seems to be up to no good with their neighbors, America is abandoning its moral foundation, Israel has to defend itself daily from surrounding countries who would like to eliminate them, North Korea is starving and torturing its own people, and earthquakes and natural disasters seem to be more and more common. But Jesus goes on to say that when we see these things happening around the world, that they are only the beginning of what is to come.

Brothers, I encourage you to stay in communion and fellowship with Him and your brothers in Christ all the more as you see evil days approaching. We know that we have a ways to go still, and He tells us in His Word that it is going to get worse. So do not arrogantly think that you know how it is all going to play out and attempt to coast in from here, for you need to be ever watchful for false prophets, lawlessness and betrayal from where love used to abound. Christians have anticipated His return in each century since the first believers walked this earth, and the end will most definitely come. However, just as Paul instructed the church in Thessalonica, no one knows when the day of His return will be, until it is suddenly upon us like labor pains. Vigilance, endurance and perseverance win this race. - GE