Are we there yet?
How many of us (Christians) are anticipating Christ's return? When I look at my life (past and present) and compare it with the one promise in the future (our blessed hope), I can't stop saying, "Are we there yet?" I have experienced failures in many parts of my life. I failed in marriage twice (not counting the relationship before marriage). The present marriage survived by a pure miracle act of God. I am the only one on my side of the family who accepted Christ. My brother is an atheist, and my sister is recovering from a bad experience with the new age movement, yet refuses to accept Christ to rebuke the spirit that followed her. My mother? She accepted Christ as many Catholics do, which is faith plus work. My children who were influenced by me (even separated, I took them to church every second weekend) live their lives without Christ.
My present wife, I thank God for accepting Christ in her life, and we share the understanding of the signs of the time and of Christ's return. She also had a two-failed marriage (abusive). She had skin cancer, and heart surgery, and lost her father and mother within a year. My wife now is in stress relief from her work caused by so many factors.
Are we there yet?
We are in debt. We invested in establishing a vineyard, which is yet to give revenue. Working in this cursed land is difficult. Day to day, we live in faith and hope for Christ's return.
Are we there yet?
There are few in our lives that share our hope in Christ (His return). I am in the body of Christ. I share the fellowship, as it was meant to be. Are we there yet? A great wedding dinner and reception is being prepared for us. Christ will be at the head table. He will take the bread and break it. He will take a cup of wine and drink out of it, as he did for the last time with His disciples. We all will testify to Christ in our lives as we share our meal with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. There will be no more tears, and no more hope because we will be living our blessed hope for eternity.
Are we there yet?
My personal impression is that the original church gathering format will return, not at this present time but after Christ returns for His Bride. Those left behind will realize that they have missed the boat by lack of faith (figure of speech). The rapture will be a big blow to many so-called Christians, friends and relatives of those taken away. In despair, they will make amend to God and accept Christ. They will be pursued, persecuted, and killed for their belief. They will go into hiding and congregate as the original Christians did. Furthermore, they will be instructed by all the tapes, CDs, MP3s, and documents left behind by those who had joined Christ in heaven.
They will be sharing wine and bread in remembrance of the broken body of Christ, signing hymnals, and sharing their life experience in Christ in a very dangerous and troubled time never seen before. This time, they will have a road map of all the events as described in prophecies in the bible. They will have seven years to notch off event by event. Every day, they will live in fear of being captured and beheaded. "Are we there yet?" will be on the lips of every living Christian every time they meet in secret.
So when I compare my present miseries with the experiences of those left behind, I can say in faith and assurance that "Yes, I am there", (Col 1:13).
