Is Jesus a Slacker?


(From 2013)



Introduction


   In our final article about “Questions concerning Jesus”, we come to the discussion of why hasn’t Jesus returned in the Second Coming? What is he waiting for?

Some of the most recent dates predicting his return have come and gone without incident i.e. May 21, 2011; December 21, 2012; and dozens of other predictions of the Second Coming or Rapture of the church. People believe these dates to be the ‘real deal’; they’ll sell everything they own, put their house up for sale, and make final preparations for the end. The day arrives and then the day ends with nothing to show for it.

Yet people who believe in Premillennialism and “date setting” continue to hope for one of these dates to be correct. Some won’t be deterred if a date comes and goes, while others might their own life in depression or give up on God and religion altogether. The question to ask then is: What is Jesus waiting for? Is he a slacker?


What is a slacker? 

The dictionary defines one as such: 

A person and especially a young person who is perceived to be disaffected, apathetic, cynical, or lacking ambition. 


This wouldn’t describe Jesus, would it? But in 2 Peter 3:3-6, the apostle addresses this very issue…

            2 Peter 3:3-6, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.  (NKJV)

These individuals mocked the Christians asking where is the return of Christ? Why hasn’t it happened yet? Everything has continued as normal since Eden, where is the promise? Even the apostle Paul had a similar problem with the church at Thessalonica except there were people who announced that the Second Coming had already taken place…
      

            1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.  (NKJV)



Patience

   So then if the Second Coming didn’t happen, then what’s keeping Jesus from returning? Going back to 2 Peter 3 we find the answer in verses 9 and 10…



            2 Peter 3:9-10, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  (NKJV)

What this means is, God isn’t in a hurry to bring everything to a conclusion. He’s longsuffering or ‘very patient’ with the planet so that everyone might have a chance to obey the gospel and become a true Christian. He doesn’t want anyone to perish because we are His creations and yet He knows, eventually, He must bring everything to an end and send people to eternal damnation.

Many out there in the world wonder what’s taking God so long to bring the world to an end. Death, war, corruption, immoral behavior, and other things continue to transform our country and our planet into a spiritual wasteland. They want to conclude their suffering, and others; here in the flesh, so that they might all enjoy the benefit of being one of God’s children in the afterlife.

But suppose one of their family members recently fell away or they have a favorite uncle who hasn’t yet heard the gospel because he is too hard-hearted. Don’t they deserve some time to do what’s right? Shouldn’t people, instead, hope that God holds off just a little bit longer in sending His Son back so that these, and others, might repent and do what is asked of them in the scriptures?

While we wait…

    In the meantime, what should we do while we wait for the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?


1.   Continue in our own studies and obedience to God. We must first look out for ourselves and make sure that we will get into heaven. There may come a time when we are so busy helping others that we overlook our own salvation; and end up falling away, ourselves, due to disappointment that others won’t listen to the bible and convert. This may sound arrogant but the apostle Paul tells us 1 Cor. 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Our own conversion is just as important and we don’t want to be left out.



2.   Study with others of the faith. Continue to edify brothers and sisters of the faith so that they, too, will continue in their salvation and not lose the desire. We are on the “Buddy System” as we should look out for one another. The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:24-25, And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. We can’t be much help to others if we don’t show up to services ourselves.


3.   Restore those who have fallen away. This will require a lot of patience and a lot of hard work. James writes in James 5:19-20, Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. Make sure you don’t fall away yourself while trying to save the soul of another. Paul warns about this in Gal. 6:1, “Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”


4.   Share the gospel with everyone. Salvation is for everyone!  From the richest man to the poorest individual. Every person; regardless of race and color has access. No one is to be left out of the kingdom but not everyone has heard God’s words yet. Don’t assume your 85-year-old grandmother, who sits in her chair every morning with her bible in hand, has already obeyed the gospel. She may not understand what Jesus was talking about when he said in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Make sure you talk to her and others about God, The Bible, and the plan of salvation. You’ll never know unless you ask.

Conclusion

 Remember God is not on our calendar. In 2 Peter 3:8 the apostle writes, 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. This is why we cannot set a date for Christ’ return and why we shouldn’t try to hurry God to end everything. He will do it in His own time; not ours.  We should be grateful for the time that we do have and do all that we can for the benefit of the kingdom.










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