The following article was published in the Arthur Graphic-Clarion in February 2012.

One of the most talked about subjects the past year or two has been the end of the world.  Predictions were made, movies were produced, and as the Bible reminds us, “no one knows the hour or the day,” except God. (Matthew 24:36)

That scripture itself is not necessarily talking about the end of the world, but the second coming of Jesus Christ.  Many times Jesus himself encourages us to “keep watch,” because we do not know the day or hour that he will return to take to heaven those who have received him as their Lord and Savior.  Billy Graham once said, “Many times when I go to bed at night I think to myself that before I awaken Christ may come.”

This watching however, is not encouraging us to put our lives in neutral and be idle.  We are to continue to live our lives and look for ways to share the love, joy, peace, and salvation that Jesus came to bring to us, and the world.  It is no coincidence that one chapter after Jesus talks about his return to earth he talks about helping those who are hungry and thirsty in our world.  He says that when we do that we are doing it for him.

In the past year there has been a lot of talk about Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and his Christian faith.  I recently finished reading his book in which he shares about his life from the days of being a missionary child in the Philippines, to his days of junior high and high school, and then up to his days of playing football in college and the NFL.  Two things really left an impression on me.  One, Tebow did not get to where he is today by being idle in his physical or spiritual life. And two, I truly believe that he sees his physical gifts from God (his platform in football) as a way to share his relationship with Jesus with others.  Like each of us, he is not perfect, but he is doing what he can to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others.

I recently heard well-known pastor Chuck Swindoll talking about this subject of Christ’s return and the call upon our lives while waiting.  He shared about something he does each morning as he awakes.  He said, “I go to the window in my bedroom and look out the slates in the blinds and say, “Good Morning Lord, will I see you today?”  He said that by doing that simple thing it prepares him for two things, the Lord’s return, and/or the person or people that he will come across that day that represent Jesus.

None of us know the future, but we do know how Jesus wants us to live it.  His desire is for us to put our faith in action each and every day.  You don’t have to be an NFL quarterback or a well-known person to do that.  In fact, if we are watching we will realize that every day we see Jesus in someone who crosses our path.  Let’s be ready!

Pastor Glen Rhodes

Arthur Mennonite Church