Isaiah 41:4-6; Jude 20-25; Mark 13:14-37
Like it or not, our lives are filled with waiting. According to studies, the typical person averages about 62 minutes a day waiting in one way or another, including 15 minutes a day in traffic, 9 minutes a day waiting for files and web pages to download, and 4.3 hours waiting whenever we need someone to come to fix, install, or deliver something. But waiting isn't what it used to be. With portable electronic devices fully integrated into our lives a wait in line is filled with phone calls and text messages, a wait at the doctor’s office spent reading an ebook, and a delay at the airport whittled away by watching movies. Even without such devices, we find ways to fill our time while we are waiting.
In reality, our whole life in this world is a time of waiting. A day is coming when Christ will return and take us to be with Him for eternity. Nothing in this world can compare to the beauty, splendor, and majesty that awaits us. We don’t belong to this world, we belong to Christ and our rightful place is in Heaven with Him. But He has left us here and told us to wait until the day when He comes for us. And He has made it clear what we should be doing while we are waiting.
Our waiting is not meant to be an empty or wasted time, but a time filled with activity. Jesus has left us in charge and given each of us our assigned tasks. In Jude we learn what those tasks include. We are told to build ourselves up in faith, pray, and keep ourselves in God’s love. In other words, while we are waiting we are to take good care of ourselves spiritually. If taking care of ourselves is the only purpose of our being in this world, our waiting would be pointless. We would be much better off in every respect to be at home with the Lord. But the purpose of our waiting goes beyond us. Jude tells us that we are here to show mercy to those who doubt, rescue those who are perishing, and to show the people of this world mercy.
While you’re waiting there is much to be done. While you’re waiting you are to make use of God’s good gifts to grow in faith and love. While you’re waiting you are to fill the time with sharing the love, joy, and peace of Jesus with people who are without hope, purpose, and meaning because they are enslaved by the corruption of this world — the same corruption from which Christ has redeemed you now and forever.
Audio file of the sermon "While You're Waiting."
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