Obsession—A Necessity During the Wait
Last night we attended a retirement party held in a renovated barn, one that once held stalls for animals but one that has been modified to be a ‘Man Cave.’ (That is what the sign on the wall said.)
Now, my back is bad, and unfortunately, after standing on concrete for a few hours, with others at this retirement party last night, I realized just how bad my back has become.
- Right now, I am in a holding pattern, a ‘waiting,’ a ‘maintaining’ if you will for the end of this teaching year, so that the one skilled with healing can surgically heal my lower back and hip.
- Right now, I have not yet experienced what the Old Testament prophet Malachi spoke of when he wrote the words of the LORD, about THAT FUTURE DAY when the Lord Jesus Christ will—“rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4: 2b NASB)
Today, that day (when the LORD will return) has not yet come; nevertheless, that does not mean we have nothing to do—as we ‘wait.’
Child of God, we have much to do, much to proclaim as we live so others will see JESUS!
Yes, Waiting.
- It’s not pleasant.
- It’s a slow-moving train that seems to be going the same speed as the train moving on the adjacent track. When we look out the window from our train seat, then life appears to be at a stand-still, un-moving, stationary.
During this Season of Advent, when ‘waiting’ is the focus, as we ‘wait’ on the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, we step each day closer. Today is December 2nd—one day closer!
Thousands of years ago, I believe the Old Testament prophets felt this same way as they awaited the coming of the Messiah.
Even today, thousands of years removed from the moment when the Messiah was born and placed in the manger in Bethlehem, I also believe the Christians feel this same way as they wait upon the second coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah.
Paul, a New Testament apostle speaks about a period of ‘waiting’ and what we should DO AS WE WAIT—PUT ON THE NEW SELF!
Please pause to read the Word of God with me.
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
(The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 3: 1-4 NASB)
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Believers are to ‘walk,’ to live through life—focused on heaven and the day that is to come. That day will come when the Savior stands and returns to gather the faithful. Yes, believers, take heart for Obsession—Truly Is A Necessity During the Wait.
Walk with me for a moment as we read what the Old Testament prophets wrote before Jesus’ birth (thousands of years ago), about ‘THAT DAY’ when CHRIST JESUS WILL COME AGAIN!
REALLY SEE THE VISION GOD PROVIDES DISPLAYING WHAT ‘THAT DAY’ LOOKS LIKE—THE DAY WE ARE AWAITING!
“Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you.”
. . .
[There will be a great battle, & the LORD will fight the battle.]
“In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east;
and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.
You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel;
yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah.
Then the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!
In that day there will be no light;
the luminaries will dwindle.
For it will be a unique day which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light.
And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea;
it will be in summer as well as in winter.”
(Zechariah 14: 1 & 4-8 NASB)
Obsession—Truly Is A Necessity During the Wait.
Focus on God’s will—Truly Is What Believers Are To Do.
Sowing Seeds of God’s Truth—Truly Is How We Are To Live As We Wait.
Focus on Heaven Child of God—Truly This Is How We Are To Be In The Wait.
In closing, before the 400 years of silence, before a small baby was born in Bethlehem, before the shepherds saw the star and traveled to find the babe in the manger, the Old Testament prophet Malachi wrote these words of encouragement—
“Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another;
and the LORD gave attention and heard it,
and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name.
“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”
So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked,
between one who serves God and one who does not serve.
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace;
and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff;
and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts,
“so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings;
and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”
(Malachi 3: 16-18 & 4: 1-2 NASB)
When God Moves—He Moves!
When God Delays—It’s Because His Plan, His Timing—It Is PERFECT TIMING!
- Therefore, we must be set apart, separate, different-looking in this world as we wait.
- Therefore, we must be busy doing God’s will, going, speaking, doing, and living for Jesus as we wait.
Child of God, that day may not be long now, even today!
- Let us BE FOUND READY!
- Let us BE FOUND WATCHING & WAITING!
- Let us BE OBSESSED, DOING GOD’S WILL—DURING THE WAIT!