What a fine thing it would be if we could have at least something of this reputation. We ought to desire it. We ought to say,
We’re going to resolve to be that kind of church—a gospel-spreading church, a God-serving church, a Christ-awaiting church.And as we do it, we might get some accolades. I suppose that it is possible. It would be a fine thing to get praise from a man like the apostle Paul for being this kind of church. And yet our eyes are not looking around us. We are looking ahead of us—to the coming of Jesus. And it is his praise for which we ought to be living. You do know that he is coming. You do know that, as a believer. And how thrilling this is—that the great events of your eternal life have not yet happened. Oh, we look back on great events. I am an adult convert. I remember the night I surrendered my life to Christ and I renounced the idols that I had been serving. It was a great moment in my life. But it is not the greatest moment I will ever have. For me, and you, and us together—we are going to be there when Christ returns. We will either be coming with him, or he will be coming to us. And the day is coming when we will receive the Son of God, who will come to us in the glorified flesh. And we will have received resurrected bodies. We will be there. That is our future history. We will see him with our own eyes. What did Job say?Oh, how my heart burns within me. My Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth, and I will see him.And Jesus tells us that when he does, how we live now will have significance. He taught it in his parable of the talents. You should know how that parable goes: The Lord is going away, and he gave talents to his people. We should think of that in terms of spiritual gifts, talents, resources, opportunities. And when he came back, he put them to work. He said,
Richard D. PhillipsIn this life, while you await My coming, be busy in the work of the kingdom. Be gospel-spreading, and God-serving, and Christ-awaiting—readying yourself for my return.And he will say to us,I have come. Show me what you have done by my grace, to my glory. Let’s look at your life.And there will be some, Jesus said, who will have to say,There’s nothing. There’s nothing to show for it at all.And so I need to give my all for Jesus—not for me.1
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.