November 29th , 2009
2012 or This Week?
There’s been a bit of “buzz” lately about an ancient Mayan prediction that the world will end in the year 2012. There’s a movie out; websites are chatting about this. But as Jesus said in the gospel two weeks ago, “Of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” So I’m not making plans for the end of the world in 2012.
Instead I’m considering what would it be like if Jesus came back this week. This week? I hope so. Why is he waiting to come and take us all to heaven? I really want to go to heaven and I think this week is as good as any. I mean, why would next week be better? Or next month? Or next year? Or 2012?
In case you’re wondering why I’m thinking this way, I assure you it’s not the Mayans. It’s Advent. What is Advent about? If we did a quick poll of people, I’m sure many would say “Advent is a time to get ready for Christmas.” or “Advent is a time to remember the birth of Christ.” But really, the number one reason for Advent is for all of us to get excited that Jesus is coming again.
I suspect that when some people hear about Jesus coming again they think that this means that we’re getting ready for the “baby Jesus” to make his appearance in countless mangers all over town
-- something like the groundhog who pops out of his den every year to check on his shadow. But our faith in Jesus isn’t centered on his being born....our faith is on his saving us through his death and resurrection and his coming again.
So I’d really like it if Jesus came again this week. Some of this is selfish -- we won’t have to fix the roof, pay the debt, or do the thousand other things that are filling my calendar. But most of this longing is because I really want to be with Jesus full time. And while Advent gets my hopes up for his coming again soon, there’s another part of me that says it won’t be this week because we’re really not ready for him yet. He doesn’t want to come and find us unprepared and unready for heaven.
As the song goes, “Stay awake. Be ready. You do not know the hour when the Lord is coming. Stay awake. Be ready. The Lord is coming soon.”
