Jesus is coming again

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 3:8

I was down at the conference this week for a 3-day meeting. It was a very productive, fruitful event where the pastor gains a lot through the meeting. However, my mind was focused on something else. My family is coming back on the last day of the meeting! The only thing I can think of in my mind is getting ready to leave for the airport as soon as the meeting is over.

Hyemi and Sebin were to arrive at 9pm at Minneapolis on Wednesday. The meeting was to end at 2:30 in the afternoon. The only thing I could focus on is the clock. The meeting went overtime for another 30 minutes. As soon as it was over I rushed to the car and began driving. As some of you might know, it takes just over 4 hours from the conference office to Minneapolis. Driving long distance can be tiring, but to me it was such a short drive. What only mattered was that I can finally see my family. 4 hours of driving is surely nothing compared to the 50 days they were gone.

At last I got to the airport way ahead of time. I checked the monitor and the flight had finally arrived. People were rushing out. I peeped to look for my family but I couldn’t find them! I waited for extra minutes. I realized that they were taking the elevator instead of the escalator because of the stroller. So I turned and walked toward the other side of the terminal and there was Hyemi and Sebin. Sebin jumped out of the stroller and ran toward me and we were together at last!.

We have been saying that Jesus is coming soon since 2000 years ago and He hasn’t come back yet. We say God has His timing. Only God knows when. But one thing we can be assured of is that God is more anxious to see us than we are to see Him. He is doing His best to return back soon. Jesus is coming again.

GC 647, 648

For this week I would like to simply read these paragraphs from the book The Great Controversy. This description simply doesn’t need any more of my personal thoughts. There is much blessing in simply reading about what we will witness in heaven. Oh, how I want to be there real soon:

As the ransomed ones are welcomed to the City of God, there rings out upon the air an exultant cry of adoration. The two Adams are about to meet. The Son of God is standing with outstretched arms to receive the father of our race—the being whom He created, who sinned against his Maker, and for whose sin the marks of the crucifixion are borne upon the Saviour’s form. As Adam discerns the prints of the cruel nails, he does not fall upon the bosom of his Lord, but in humiliation casts himself at His feet, crying: “Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain!” Tenderly the Saviour lifts him up and bids him look once more upon the Eden home from which he has so long been exiled.

After his expulsion from Eden, Adam’s life on earth was filled with sorrow. Every dying leaf, every victim of sacrifice, every blight upon the fair face of nature, every stain upon man’s purity, was a fresh reminder of his sin. Terrible was the agony of remorse as he beheld iniquity abounding, and, in answer to his warnings, met the reproaches cast upon himself as the cause of sin. With patient humility he bore, for nearly a thousand years, the penalty of transgression. Faithfully did he repent of his sin and trust in the merits of the promised Saviour, and he died in the hope of a resurrection. The Son of God redeemed man’s failure and fall; and now, through the work of the atonement, Adam is reinstated in his first dominion.

Transported with joy, he beholds the trees that were once his delight—the very trees whose fruit he himself had gathered in the days of his innocence and joy. He sees the vines that his own hands have trained, the very flowers that he once loved to care for. His mind grasps the reality of the scene; he comprehends that this is indeed Eden restored, more lovely now than when he was banished from it. The Saviour leads him to the tree of life and plucks the glorious fruit and bids him eat. He looks about him and beholds a multitude of his family redeemed, standing in the Paradise of God. Then he casts his glittering crown at the feet of Jesus and, falling upon His breast, embraces the Redeemer. He touches the golden harp, and the vaults of heaven echo the triumphant song: “Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again!” The family of Adam take up the strain and cast their crowns at the Saviour’s feet as they bow before Him in adoration.

This reunion is witnessed by the angels who wept at the fall of Adam and rejoiced when Jesus, after His resurrection, ascended to heaven, having opened the grave for all who should believe on His name. Now they behold the work of redemption accomplished, and they unite their voices in the song of praise. GC 647, 648

Rejoice!

“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” Philippians 1:18

Philippians is a letter which Paul wrote while he was in prison waiting for a trial. He was writing to the members in Philippi as he counsels them on ministry. As you can read from this short letter, there are three themes that run across the letter. Rejoicing, humility, and faith are the main themes that you can find here.

Let’s remember that Paul is in prison as he is writing this letter. I would find it very hard to rejoice when I am in prison and yet Paul tells that as Christians we need to rejoice. Rejoicing at all times is what he asks of us to do. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4. With the things that are happening in our lives, it does seem very difficult to rejoice all the time. But the verse in Philippians 1:18 tells us that we should rejoice because Christ is preached!

Paul found the greatest joy in preaching Christ so that despite the imprisonment and persecutions that he received in his ministry he was able to rejoice. He couldn’t help but to talk about Christ all the time! There is something special in the name of Jesus so that when we talk about Jesus Christ, He will give us the joy and happiness. The same change you experienced in Christ will be seen in others when you preach Christ. As you witness that you will be like Paul. You will be able to rejoice!

I wonder if...

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only… Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:36,44

I wonder if…

As many of you know my family is in Korea. I really miss them and I look forward to seeing them soon very much. In fact, I know when they are coming. They are returning back on the 21^st of this month at 9pm. I know exactly the date and even the time of their arrival. All the while you can probably imagine what my house may be looking like right now. It is not that really tidy or organized. I do believe I am somewhat of a clean and organized person. But while I am alone I don’t keep up to the high level of house maintenance. Do you know when my house will be clean? On the 20^th of this month, one day before my family returns. I wonder if this is a similar reason God doesn’t tell us the exact time of Jesus’ Second Coming.

I have to admit even as a pastor there are times when I do ungodly things. There are times when I am listening to a radio channel while driving and a secular music comes out, like a hip hop or rock music. I’d enjoy the beat for a moment. There were times I would go watch a movie at a theater. And there are other ungodly things you can think of. You might ask, is that really bad? But then I think to myself what if I got into an accident at that moment and I passed away, or what if Jesus returned at that very moment. The last moment of my life in this world was encountering secular things, not godly things. Wouldn’t you want the last moment of your earthly life to be something of a holy moment? I wonder how I would feel when I was found listening to rap music or in a theater at the very moment Jesus returned. Wouldn’t you rather want to be found studying the Bible, praying, or witnessing? I wonder if this is one of the reasons God doesn’t tell us exactly when He is coming. I wonder if…

We need to be ready all the time.