What are we waiting for?
Christians have a tendency to put a heavy emphasis on events in the past and in the future. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are certainly worth focusing on and celebrating. They are the central events in the history of the Christian faith. The reality of eternity in heaven with God is also a great cause of joy for Christians, especially in light of present suffering.
While celebrating the past and hoping in the future are good and right for every Christian, Jesus gave us an important calling in this present life. In Acts 1:6-8, Christ’s followers struggled to understand their life. They hoped that Jesus was going to end present evil and suffering and bring about the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus’ answer for them was jarring and explicit. He said, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. In essence, Jesus said, ‘you don’t need to know when the end is coming. Don’t spend too much time thinking about the future because you’ve got an important job to do right now: to be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.’
Paul teaches us in Ephesians that the Church is the body of Christ. In other words, the Church is designed by God to embody the person and work of Jesus Christ on earth. The Church should be Christ made visible. The way we live in community should reflect Jesus. The way we treat our neighbors should reflect Jesus. Our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions should reflect Jesus. I John 2:6 reads, ‘whoever says he abides in (Christ) ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.’ Christians are empowered by Jesus to be His life on earth.
Christians, what are we waiting for? Jesus has called us into the church community to embody Him in the world. This is our witness. Our world is broken, corrupt, and suffering. Jesus came to our world to bring healing and redemption, and through His power, we are called to do nothing less.
