IN GOD’S WAITING ROOM

Pastor Rick Jackson*

Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Luke 8:40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no  gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

 

Waiting can be disastrous. It can be boring. It can produce stress even if you are not doing anything. Many people today cannot wait for a light to change without pulling out a mobile device and texting or something else- often causing others to wait on them! But waiting can be productive. It can be interesting. Waiting can be a blessing. There is an art to waiting that it behooves us all to learn.

God told mankind often that the Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour would come, and man had to wait, and then, “when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons” [Gal. 4:4-5]

And now He has left again but with this promise, “I will come again” [Jn. 14:3]. We are urged to be ready. We are encouraged to be stedfast, to watch, to occupy to love His appearing. Now consider three things regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our waiting for His return.

 

I. THE PROMINENCE OF HIS SECOND COMING [1 Peter 1:11]

No truth is mentioned so much in the entire Bible. Both Testaments repeatedly mention the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Bible speaks of our Saviour two truths stand out, as seen in 1 Peter 1:11, sufferings and glory.

Searching what , or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1. David Spoke of this [Psalm 22-the Psalm of Sobs, and Psalm 24- the Psalm of Glory]

2. Isaiah spoke of this [9:6, 53:1-12]

-For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

3. Paul spoke of this [Hebrews 2:9]

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

II. THE POWER OF HIS SECOND COMING

1. Power to Comfort [1 Th. 4:13-18]

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

2. Power to Charge [2 Tm. 4:1]

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

-it will awaken our consciousness to the nearness of Christ- He is near!

-it will increase our faith in God [knowing what He has done already, what He is doing, what He will do]

-it will increase our zeal for souls- we want folks to be ready, the time is short

3. Power to Cleanse [2 Pet. 3:14, 1 Jn. 2:28-3:3]

-Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

-Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

III. THE PURPOSE OF HIS SECOND COMING

 

1. It will bring us into His Presence [Jn. 14:3, 1 Th. 4:17]

-And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

-Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

2. It will change us into His Likeness [Ps. 17:15, Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Jn. 3:2]

- As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

- For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

- when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3. It will complete His Promises [2 Pet. 3:9-13]

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, 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 the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

*inspired by Lee Roberson