AUGUST 18, 2014
Believing
In Advance
Read: Revelation 22:12-21
Surely I am coming quickly. —Revelation 22:20
In
a German prison camp in World War II, undiscovered by the guards, some
Americans built a homemade radio. One day news came that the German high
command had surrendered, ending the war. Because of a communications breakdown,
however, the guards did not yet know this. As word spread among the prisoners,
a loud celebration broke out. For 3 days, they sang, waved at guards, and
shared jokes over meals. On the fourth day, they awoke to find that all the
Germans had fled. Their waiting had come to an end.
A
number of Bible stories center on waiting: Abraham waiting for a child (Gen.
12–21). The Israelites waiting for deliverance from Egypt. Prophets waiting for
the fulfillment of their own predictions. The disciples waiting for Jesus to
act like the powerful Messiah they anticipated. Jesus’ final words at the end
of Revelation are “I am coming quickly,” followed by an urgent, echoing prayer,
“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (22:20). For this, we still wait.
Here’s
the question I ask myself: As we wait, why are we so often fearful and anxious?
We can, like the Allied prisoners, act on the good news we say we believe. What
is faith in God, after all, but believing in advance what will only make sense
in reverse?
Faith looks beyond the
shadow
Of dread and doubt and
fear
And finds the Savior
waiting
And always standing
near. —French
Waiting tries our
faith and so we wait in hope.
Insight
After
writing of the events that will precede Jesus’ second coming (Rev. 4–22), John
assured his readers of the certainty and nearness of Jesus’ return by quoting
Him two times: “I am coming quickly” (vv.12,20). John then adds a personal
plea, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (v.20).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
