We don’t actually own or fully enjoy everything we own. The new couch you wanted and saved up for is now yours! Bought and paid for at the furniture store. You have the receipt to prove it. But it’s on backorder for a couple weeks because it’s so popular, so you’ll have to wait some more before it’s truly in your possession and installed in your living room. The house you bought on a 30-year loan is yours. Or is it? Yes and no. It’s yours, but the deed won’t appear in your name alone until you pay off the mortgage.
Jesus arrived in our world once before, and by his extreme generosity he bought and paid for our forgiveness and salvation on the cross. There’s nothing left to pay! And we know it’s ours through faith. No doubt about it. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13). But if we’re reading this, we’re not in the heavenly Jerusalem just yet.
What do we do in the time “in between”?
As we wait for a couch to be delivered, we can rearrange the living room so it fits. While we wait to pay off our mortgage we can take care of and maintain the home we live in.
While we live in eager expectation of Jesus’ arrival at his second coming, there’s plenty to do. We’ll consider that topic as we gather together for worship over the next few Sundays.
October 29: A Time for Steadfast Faith
November 5: A Time to Focus on Future Glory
November 12: A Time for Watchfulness
November 19: a break in the series for our 40th anniversary service
November 26: A Time to Yearn for the End
The Lord will strengthen our confidence in the eternal blessings of his first coming, and will encourage us to stay active in our faith until those blessings become a full reality when he comes again!