When Jesus was on earth, he warned his disciples of traumatic events, of wars and suffering. Yet, he promised that he would come back from heaven. Angels would accompany him and the judgment of the world would start. (see for instance Mark 13:21-37)
Jesus also promised that he would be with his disciples until the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20). Through the Holy Spirit, believers in all centuries have experienced Jesus' presence, sometimes as an inner voice , sometimes in visions.
So, in a way Jesus is still with us in this present time, and at the same time he will physically come back to earth in the future. He surprisingly said to his disciples that it was better for them that he would go away (John 16:7), so that he could send the Holy Spirit. How is it possible that it was better for the disciples that Jesus goes away and sends the Holy Spirit?
If Jesus is physically away from our world, through the Holy Spirit we can have constant fellowship with God. When Jesus was on earth, the disciples needed to follow Jesus wherever he went, in order to be with God. Now that the Holy Spirit has been spread on all flesh, every person in this world can be with God all the time. This is the promise that God gave us through the prophet Joel: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28). This promise began to be accomplished at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came on the Apostles and the praying believers.
Jesus clearly stated that he did not know when he would return, that only the heavenly Father knew (Mark 13:32). So, we should probably accept that we also don't know the time. To know the time is not the goal. The question is not so much when will Jesus return, but how he will find us.
Will we be spiritually sleeping and lazy, or vibrant with His Spirit guiding us in all we do? Will we be like the foolish virgins that did not take oil for their lamps? Or will we be like the wise virgins, keeping their lamps burning (Matthew 25:1-13)? Do we want to welcome continually the loving presence of the Holy Spirit in us? This anointing gives us peace and guidance, showing us each day the acts of love prepared for us. (Eph 2:8-10).
Often, we are tempted to think that in our lives we have to wait for things to happen. Many will spend time watching the news to listen to something ‘new’. Yet, the Holy Spirit is available, ready to be spread on all flesh in this world and to speak with us in all circumstances. This amazing promise, this amazing possibility, is often forfeited by our passivity.
We will passively say that we wait for Jesus to return to earth, so that the bad people (we often think of the others) will be destroyed and that we will be delivered from our discouraging lives. Yet, we should be aware that it is the quality of our communion with God through the Holy Spirit that is our security. Only this communion ensures that we will not be part of those who are destroyed when Jesus returns on earth. Eternal life is not about having received a ticket for heaven through a past action or word. Eternal life is about the fact that we walk by faith with God today, the Holy Spirit guiding us in what we do. Here is our true security. In John 17:3, Jesus reminded us: Eternal life is to know the only true God (present tense), and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
Through the Holy Spirit, we can be in constant communion with God, in a constantly open dialog with him.
Are we willing to make this effort, to learn to listen to God and to follow His guidance in all we do? Or do we prefer to let others keep us in passivity, feeding us with images and stories developed for us like spoon-fed babies? Do we want to let the news remain the bad news we watch on the TV, or do we want the Holy Spirit to guide us and to carry good news for this world?
Do we choose the passivity of waiting for “Jesus’ return” in the future - like if Jesus would rejoice of our passivity and lack of love? If we do choose passivity, then we will be like the servant who chose to hide the talent he had received. When his master returned, he was scolded and deprived of the little he had (see the story in Matthew 25:14-30).
Or are we ready to stop complaining and to make the effort to really know Jesus through the Holy Spirit? Are we ready to seriously meditate and learn the teachings of Jesus as given in Scripture, with other fellow believers, and to ask for the Spirit’s guidance in applying them in our daily life?
Jesus did not leave us as orphans, he sent the Holy Spirit and he clearly stated that it is even better for us now than when he was physically on earth (John 16:7)! We should heed this word, and get rid of our passivity. Let us focus on God and our neighbor, so that when Jesus does return, he will find us faithful, doing his will. Full of God’s love through the Holy Spirit in us, let us live and share Jesus' good news in this world today.
The kingdom of God is near. The time has come to turn away from all our passive and selfish ways! Let us welcome God as our true king. He wants us to be part of His kingdom.
Let us live this life fully. God wants the miracles of His love to freely flow in us and through us.
There is work to do. The harvest is plentiful. Let us pray the master of the harvest to send workers. Each of us can be one of them, with humility and joy. Let us stop waiting passively on God. Let us follow Jesus together as his disciples each of our days, as His church in this world, led by the Holy Spirit.
Let us stay spiritually awake, ready for the day of his physical return!
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