2016-12-02 - Waiting

Originally Published 2006-12-26

If you've ever been to an amusement park like Six Flags or Disney World you know waiting. Maybe you saw an advertisement for a ride on TV and planned a trip to a park. You rush to the ride only to find that there is a line. And so you wait. You wait. And you wait some more. No amount of planning, no amount of excitement, no amount of anything can shorten the wait.

Luke 2:1-6 (ASV) Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. ² This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; ⁵ to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. ⁶ And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.

Nine months prior to this event Mary and Joseph were each given messages from God. I bet if we asked Mary and Joseph if they were excited about the upcoming birth they both would have said yes. But no level of excitement can rush a woman through a pregnancy so they had to wait for nine months. Waiting was all they could do. Mary and Joseph trusted God to do what his angelic messengers said he would do. They could not use an ultrasound confirm that the child was a boy and they sure couldn't do a blood test to make sure God was the father. They simply had to trust God and wait.

Today we are in the same position.

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus promised to come again. His first coming was as a child to a young mother but his second coming will be as a husband to fetch his wife home. Like Mary, the disciples believed he would come. Like Mary, Thomas believed but wondered how. Like Mary, Thomas was instructed and we are instructed through him.

Today we are still waiting, still standing in line waiting. But with each step we get closer to the ride that will unite us with our King. Hallelujah - the King is coming!

IHFHBOH

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All scripture references from KJV (King James Version) unless otherwise noted