“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36
In one of the most simple, tragic, and yet, very real declarations of Scripture concerning the Lord Jesus’ first coming, and the rejection of those He came to save, the Apostle John writes: “He came to His own, and His own received Him not.” (Jn. 1:11) Just prior to declaring this, John wrote of Christ: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” (1:9-10) With the revelation of who Christ truly is, and the rejection by those for whom He died, and came to save, there is the issue of the consequence of rejection.
In speaking to His disciples of the sign, and proofs, of His second coming, the Lord spoke of God’s judgment which would come upon Jerusalem around 70 A.D. At that time the Roman army would destroy the city and temple. Here would be the revelation, and fulfillment, of God’s certain judgment on sin, and the sinner. For though God had chosen Jerusalem to be the place where He would set His name, the city would eventually become a mass of ruins because of their rejection of Him. Christ did everything possible to take Jerusalem unto Himself, even pouring out the Spirit at Pentecost. Though there would be persecution of the believers, many turned to the Lord and were saved at that time. God would not send His judgment upon Jerusalem until, in His righteous wisdom, there would be no more room in the hearts Jerusalem’s inhabitants, to receive the testimony of the Savior, and the King. Jesus would tell His disciples that judgment would certainly come, for there would be a falling away, and a return to the attitude of rejecting the true “Light,” and truth. When the disciples come to Jesus and desire to learn what the signs of His coming will be, and the end of the world, He takes them aside to give them knowledge of what they need to know. Ultimately, He will be speaking to them of the events leading up to His second coming. That event will be His glorious return to conquer His enemies, establish His kingdom on this earth for a thousand years, judge the wicked, and reward the righteous. It seems that all is centered, and focused, on a particular day, His day, the “Day of the Lord,” It is a day for which the believer is to live, and wait for. How then is he, or she, to live in light of that “day?”
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, his son in the faith, he truly opens up his heart to him concerning his own soon departure, going to be with Christ. He tells Timothy that the time of his departure is at hand, but then adds: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7) Paul’s readiness to meet Christ is explained by his life being Christ’s soldier, belong to Him, fighting in this spiritual warfare, for Him. As a soldier for Christ, truly understanding the nature, principles, and the weapons of his warfare, he has made good use of the time, and resources in Christ, enduring hardness, and remaining unentangled, living for his Commander. Paul’s readiness is understood by his words: “I have fought the good fight.” Though Paul is soon to be with the Lord, he will remain Christ’s soldier, doing His bidding, finishing well the fight.
Secondly, Paul relates that he has been running a race, one in which he is still engaged. He is ever seeking to apprehend the meaning and magnitude of his calling, finishing his individual race, well. He will do this in a manner that corresponds to the will, calling, and power of the Spirit.
Lastly, Paul is looking to the “righteous Judge,” who will award him a crown of perfect righteousness, on THAT DAY. The reward of God to Paul, the soldier and runner, is Christ’s perfect righteousness.
Dear Father, Give us to war, and run, well today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.