By Pastor John Mateos Ong
Many people are already waiting for Christmas. How many like waiting? Some people are very patient. Some are not because waiting is not a pleasurable thing. But the Lord uses the wait to develop you. How do you maximize the wait?2 Peter 3:8-9 says, ”But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.“ Do you ask God to wait when He is asking you to do something? God is beyond time; He is eternal because He has time on His hands. 1 year to man is 1000 years to Him. But everytime you tell God to give you a little more time, He can wait.
The Jews have been waiting for the Messiah for so long. There was 400 years between the Old and the New Testament. From the last time God spoke to Malacchi, He was silent for 400 years until He was heard again in Matthew. Matthew 11:2-3 says, ”When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”“ Right now you are still waiting. What are you waiting for? Everybody is waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ. James 5:7-9 says, ”Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!“ Like a farmer who is waiting for his crop to grow or a businessman waiting for his money to double, do not grumble against each other. Jesus is coming soon.
What are you supposed to do while waiting?
Praise in the wait - Psalm 13:1-6 says, ”How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.“ David asks the Lord how long he has to wait. Just like some people are asking God how Long they have to wait because they are getting tired of life. They get impatient. But God is very patient. If you are patient in the wait, you will see that it is all worth it.
Get busy in the wait - Proverbs 16:27 says, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop, idle lips are his mouthpiece.” Some people think that when you are waiting, you just sit down and do nothing. The Bible is full of commands and instructions to do while you wait. Ifyou do not know what to do, then maybe you are not reading your bible enough. Many people get discouraged while following Jesus too. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, ”Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.“ Being a Christian is a full time job. Whatever labor you do for the Lord is not in vain. He sees everything even when others do not see your good work. What talents do you have? Are you using your gifts for the Lord? Are you getting busy with the right things while you are waiting? Philippians 1:6 says, ”being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.“ Who among you feel like God has already changed you even a little? Are you getting impatient because the change is not yet perfect? God is working even when yu feel like He is not there. He finishes what He starts. You can get impatient with yourself. But not God. Only God can wait forever. Your salvation was already finished at the cross. But God is still working in you.
Be hopeful in the wait - Romans 12:12 says, ”Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.“ People wait but they are unsure of what they are waiting for. While you are waiting, hope should not leave the picture. Just like waiting for Christmas or a vacation to come wherein you count the days, that is how you are supposed to be waiting for the second coming. Be faithful in prayer. Do not cease praying in everything. If the Lord says it, He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, ”Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” What if you just found out your husband is leaving you or that you are diagnosed with a terminal illness? Be thankful because God is still standing right by you. If you cannot thank the Lord for certain circumstances, be thankful at least that you are still here. If your hope is founded on Jesus, then y9ou have something to look forward to. When it is hard to thank. God for the circumstance, thank Him in the circumstance. Romans 15:4 says, ”For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Hope is in Jesus Christ.
Do you know why gamblers lose all their money? Because they always hope that the next bet is what will make them win. Until they realize that they have no more money. But the hope that God gives is sure. You just need to be steadfast and patience because He is coming soon.