Wait... wait... just wait

Luke 12: 35-48 teaches that our attitude towards Christ's second coming should be one of waiting and anticipation. Those who remain faithful will be rewarded (v. 38, 43), while those who choose to disobey will be punished (v. 45-46). For the disobedient, the passage further warns that there will be different levels of punishment depending on the perpetrator's degree of deliberateness in disobedience (v. 47-48).

There are many examples in the Bible we can look to to better understand what it means to have an attitude of waiting and anticipation.

First, is the case of Noah. Like now, during Noah's time, many had lost their way and no longer acknowledged God; and the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence (Genesis 6:11). However, Noah remained faithful (in Genesis 6:9: "the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God."). When God decided to destroy the world by flooding and gave instructions to Noah to build a boat, Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him (Genesis 6:22).

Another example is the case of David. David was anointed as king of Israel by Samuel (1 Samuel 17:13) at a very young age when Saul was still king and not without an heir, Jonathan. At that time, there was no obvious prospect that David could ever inherit the kingdom. Even though David eventually married Saul's daughter, Michal (1 Samuel 18: 17), Saul became increasingly suspicious of David and tried many times to kill him. A large part of David's life before he finally became king was running away from Saul (1 Samuel 19-26).

In these two examples, Noah and David believed God's warning/promise of a future event. Despite their external circumstances, they remained firmly convicted that God would do as He said he would. Noah was the only one who believed God... but yet he still believed. How difficult it must have been for him to remain faithful when all others were mocking. David... he held on to God's promise of salvation even in the bleakest of times when he was hungry, tired, un-relentlessly pursued. How difficult it must have been for him to remain convinced of God's goodness and sovereignty that He would, could rescue him.

Like David and Noah, we must have faith that God will do exactly as He promised, and that is that Christ will return. There will be judgment (as God flooded the earth during Noah's time) as well as salvation (as God saved David from Saul). Whether we receive judgment or salvation then will depend on our actions today; for our actions are simply reflections of our faith.