Are We There Yet?

Revelation 6:12

Just about every parent has heard the question at least once on a long trip, Are we there yet? I know I have and not only have I heard it once, I have heard it once an hour on some trips. Most of the time the kids are in anticipation of the beach, theme park, or some other fun vacation destination. They just can wait to get there and enjoy the fun.

We as Christians can learn something from a child in moments like this. Jesus said “Except you become a little child you cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” There are spiritual attributes that we can learn from children if we would sit back and observe. In this case the attribute of longing for the completion of our redemption when Christ comes again is how we should find ourselves on the journey from this world to heaven.

The souls under the altar crying out “How long oh Lord…?” Illustrates this longing from within the heart of the believer. They are not just longing for vengeance but are longing for the fullness of redemption in which they will reunite with their bodies and fully united with Christ. These are they that have are already run their race and we who are still running have that same longing. C S Lewis said that “God did not make us for just this world alone…that’s why we are uncomfortable in it.” He has placed “Eternity in the heart” Ecclesiastes 3:11 and we know that there is more to God’s plan than just a brief moment in time/space history. This longing after a while turns into a groaning as Paul wrote in Romans 8:18-27 and we start to lose interest in this world as a greater interest for that which is to come becomes more and more a reality.

If we are not careful this longing can create a frustration that could cause us to lose heart and ask “Where is the promise of his coming?” 2 Peter 3:4 Or be like those wise virgins in Jesus’ parable were the tendency is to fall asleep. Anticipation must be accompanied with patience. To answer the question Are we there yet, is to communicate the fact that no we are not but are steadily getting closer to that great moment and consummation in history when Christ will come and gather his saints together to himself to forever be with him in glory. It is then that we can say We have arrived!

Pastor Robby