“For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14
It seems hard to look in the future and no worry right now. Many seem to be thinking and preparing for the worse. Between a virus that does not seem to want to shake from America, tensions between the people and those in positions of power, and an election year with two kind of awful candidates at the forefront. Yea, the near future looks a little bleak to be honest.
But blessed are we who believe in Christ Jesus. Suddenly one’s entire outlook on the future can change when they consider the return of Christ and the resurrection of all Christians who have passed away.
I feel like some do not make it that far when thinking about the future of the world though. Or they reduce it to the glorious return of Christ and never dwell on the beautiful restoration that will take place in that day.
Instead, many, and partially because of particular denominations in America, focus on all the suffering and worsening of events that will take place as the end approaches. Or they focus on aspects we do not know, like will Christians alive be relieved of the experiencing the suffering or will they go through it?
Though I do not think we have our thinking all wrong in regard to the end times, and present circumstances, I believe we focus on the wrong aspects. We are not to be watching for the mark of beast, or the one world government, or any other seal mentioned in the scriptures. We are to be watching and awaiting the return of Christ.
Refocusing on Christ:
I believe if we want to change our focus on Christ when we think about the future, we must first shift our thinking of the present on Christ. While there is no present resurrection, we believe that is to come. Yet, if we want to focus on that in the future than we must focus on Christ’s work in the present.
Christ is Lord, Messiah, and Prophet. He is the Redeemer, the Restorer, and the Reconciler. He renews true belief in God and sets a correct trajectory for humanity to follow.
“But Camden, that is what He has done.”
Yes, but that is also what He is actively doing through the Holy Spirit. Guiding and Directing, Justifying and Sanctifying, Dying and Resurrecting. For daily we must die to self in our pursuit of Christ, who by the Holy Spirit energizes New Life within us.
Christ modeled for us in the past, what we are to be doing now, so we can anticipate when He is to return in the future. In other words, we must realize and actualize that Christ is King NOW and LATER, thus impacting how we live for Him NOW and LATER.
Anticipating and Practicing Restoration:
With a refocused lens on Christ, one anticipates His return to Earth and the restoration of everything. The ground and plants will be reinvigorated with richness. Animals will roam without fear of each other. Humanity will be resurrected and restored into the fullness of God’s original good intentions. We will live in a magnificent city with people from all around the globe, some speaking ancient languages and others speaking languages that have yet to be heard, which I believe at that point we will understand every language without having to take a class which undo’s the impact of Babel, but that is besides the point.
The world will be restored, Heaven and Earth reconciled. Millenia’s of humanity resurrected into eternal life. That is what we anticipate.
Yet today we can daily practice restoration.
Within ourselves we can be sanctified by help of the Holy Spirit, who is internally transforming us into Christ-likeness. Communally we can be seeking and practicing restoration by becoming agents of Biblical reconciliation, becoming peace makers in a world void of peace.
Where there are broken families, we can bring reconciliation. Where there is addiction, we can bring rehabilitation. Where there is illness, we can bring regeneration.
In practicing restoration, we become Christ’s agents that obey Him, His Word, and implementors of His mission.
Final Blessing:
When we think of the end, can we refocus on Christ’s return and the resurrection of the millenniums of God’s followers? It’s a refocus on the restoration that is to come and can shift how we think about issues today. Let us not live in fear for tomorrow but in faith for what Christ is doing in the world. It is quiet the shift in worldview when we move from death and suffering being the end to Christ being the end. He is our resurrected hope.
Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breath, and every heartbeat of your journey.
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