I think many leaders in evangelical churches are a bit uncomfortable with this questions. Many in their churches may be thinking that we live in those last days, but at one level it seems audacious to think that indeed, Jesus is returning soon. We might not want to be wrong. We can look back and see folks have been wrong many times. Back in 2,000 many thought Jesus might return and there was a Y2K computer event that factored into the hype. In around 1988 many thought Jesus might return based on 40th anniversary of Israel being formed as a nation. In world war 2 many saw Hitler and or Stalin as the anti-Christ. In the mid 1800s the Millerites waited on a hill for the return of Jesus which turned into a great disappointment. Looking back through history there have been those who have been watching and waiting thinking Christ would return in their lifetime. In fact looking all the way back to Christ’s disciples we find the same thing. Here is a quote interesting from CS Lewis I’d like us to consider:
Say what you like, but we shall be told that the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And he was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else.
CS Lewis and many other Christians who have read the scriptures believe that Jesus’ disciples thought that Jesus would return in their lifetime. If they did believe it, they were wrong. But were they wrong? Can we be wrong at one level but correct at another?
In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul writes that we should be vigilant and watchful that the season of Christ’s return should not catch us like a thief in the night because we are not of the night but of the day and we should see the time of His coming. In Luke 12:35-37 Where Jesus says something similar about being prepared and watchful:
Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
Getting back to the disciples, I don’t believe they were wrong – They truly believed that Christ’s return was imminent and they were obediently watchful. I think it helped stir them into action. Here are the lyrics to a famous country song that speaks a relevant truth.
He said “I was in my early forties With a lot of life before me When a moment came that stopped me on a dime. I spent most of the next days Looking at the x-rays And talkin’ ’bout the options And talkin’ ’bout sweet time” I asked him “When it sank in That this might really be the real end How’s it hit you When you get that kind of news? Man, what’d you do?” And he said “I went skydiving. I went Rocky Mountain climbing. I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu. And I loved deeper And I spoke sweeter And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying” And he said “Someday I hope you get the chance To live like you were dying”
When we see the end is coming, it can help us to see things clearly. It can help us to take a risk. We will likely prioritize things differently. I think Jesus Christ wants his church to live like he’s returning soon. How might the church behave differently if we truly thought Christ was returning within 5 weeks, 5 months, 5 years or maybe a bit longer? Might the leaders of Christ’s Church behave differently? Might the people of the Church be behaving differently? Would your priorities change? I believe Jesus will return soon – possibly in my lifetime. Maybe time will prove me wrong. If so, I’ll be in good company – The disciple and many other believers throughout church history have thought the same. I’m not really concerned about being wrong on the timing. I am concerned about something else though.
I’m concerned that even in the midst of my belief that Christ is returning soon, It might not be stirring me to action like it should. That I’m not climbing on the back of my spiritual bull – my spiritual Fumanchu and that I’m not truly living like Christ is coming (soon).