Did You Ever Wonder?

The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (AMP)

In one of The Truth Project videos, a young girl asks the question, “Did you ever wonder?,” as she pondered the intricacies of the way God designed the human body. The magnificence of God and the vast glory of His creative work is too great to comprehend for most of us. As Christians, God bequeathed to us an instruction manual to equip us to understand His plan for mankind and to prepare us to live in a way that is aligned with His purpose. Yet, we are unable to grasp the mind of God or even the depth of the mysteries contained within His Word.

If you gathered a group of Christians together and asked them if they believed in the literal understanding and application of the scriptures, the answers might surprise you. One example might be in relation to the return of the Lord. Most of us will say that we believe that Christ will come again. But did you ever wonder when? We are at a point in America, where we increasingly mock God and disdain the name of Jesus. The great Cathedrals of Europe are bare. A new world order appears to be forming in the West. Yet in spite of this, the Church of Jesus Christ is exploding in areas of the world where Christians are persecuted and hated. In the midst of great and horrific natural disaster, miracles abound. How do we explain it? The Bible teaches much about the signs of the Lord’s return and many are clearly visible, but with the world in such distress, did you ever wonder why He tarries? Why he doesn’t come now?

The Bible tells us. It says that the Lord desires that no man should perish. He yearns to have compassion on us. In Chapter 33, God gives Ezekiel a message for the people, Tell them: ‘As I live— the declaration of the Lord GOD — I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent; repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?’ Throughout scripture, we see that those who loved God were moved to intercede with God for the people and the cities. God called us and saved us not because He simply wanted to bless us and give us good gifts, but because He wanted a people that would love and worship Him, a people who would be burdened for the lost and a people who would be willing to go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.

In 1 Timothy 2, Paul says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle — I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying — a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

I am one that wonders when the Lord will come, and I am increasingly amazed at how the scriptures are aligning with what is happening in the world today. Time may be winding down, or the Lord may tarry for many more years – I don’t know; but I am grateful and I do know that each day the Lord tarries provides new opportunity to examine myself and to determine if the great commission is really a priority in my life. Am I doing all that I can to share the good news of the Gospel with friends and loved ones who don’t know Christ? . . . or with my neighbors? Am I sacrificing time to make supplications, prayers and intercessions as Paul exhorted before the throne of grace? . . . are you? I’ve been reading the Old Testament and am reminded of all those times God bestowed mercy instead of destruction on those who rebelled because someone who loved God interceded for them.

Prayer makes a difference. We don’t know when the Father will say to the Son, “Time to go,” and the door will shut for those who do not know Christ. Take time to pray for someone that you know needs Jesus today, and continue to pray believing that God will hear and respond! Pray for our cities and the brokenness within them. Pray the Lord visits His people. Pray for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lonely, those with a burden too heavy to carry. Pray for the parents who grieve and the woman abandoned and forsaken. Pray for the captive. Pray. Prayer makes a difference.