Each Christmas season, our eyes are fixed on the arrival of God the Son as our Messiah. Advent calls attention to this, often through a review of salvation history. During this season we celebrate Jesus’ first coming as an infant who grew to be a man. We remember his ministry, his life, his death, and his resurrection, but Advent also anticipates his return.
The English word advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which is translated as parousia in the Greek. Parousia means “The Coming,” a term indicating the first coming, but also the return of Christ, the long anticipated promise. The parousia, the Second Coming, consists of a series of events, detailed throughout the New Testament.
We stretch and yearn toward the Day of Christ’s return, especially during this year of pandemic, family tragedy, violence, and the brokenness of still not having attained racial justice. This year felt downright apocalyptic, the pale horse whose rider is Death has visited us.
Globally, there have been in excess of 74,200,000 cases of COVID-19, and more than 1,700,000 loved ones have been lost all over the world. Additionally, it may not be until mid-summer or the fall of 2021 for the majority of us to have been vaccinated and herd immunity reached.
“When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:7-8 ESV).

This is not the first plague / pestilence, nor will it be the last. Since the Lord Jesus himself told us to watch and to wait for his return, each plague cycle since Christ ascended may have prompted the same question: Could this be the time of Christ’s return? Many have thought the same this year.
Only God knows when.
Peter’s final words to the church are significant. They were penned right before he was martyred in Rome. These last words prepare us for The Coming, so that we are ready when Christ returns. Peter spells out how believers are to grow in maturity as we act upon God’s promises. Growth requires effort on our part.
2 Peter 1:3-11 ESV
” 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, SO THAT THROUGH THEM you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
“5 FOR THIS VERY REASON, MAKE EVERY EFFORT [begin now] to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 FOR IF THESE QUALITIES ARE YOURS AND ARE [continually] INCREASING, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so [habitually] nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent [begin now] to confirm your calling and election, for if you [habitually] practice these qualities you will never fall.11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
With death often feeling quite near and The Coming appointed for a day we do not know, living a life of faith, seeking the Lord, and pressing toward maturity are essential. When we press toward obedience to Christ, this is evidence that we are truly believers. If these qualities are our regular practice, or we are growing, bit by bit, day by day, year by year, then we are on the right path.
Growth in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love are evidence of Christ in us. These are essential realities necessary for admittance to the Kingdom of Heaven, for they reveal that the Lord is in us. We are born again.
Growth in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love are evidence of Christ in us. These qualities reveal that the Lord is in us. We are born again. Click To TweetYou’ve probably recognized by now that these are the very character qualities that have been tried and tested this year. During this year of pandemic, violence, and inequality, we may have learned that our faith is wobbly, our self-control lacking, our steadfastness quaking, our godliness not what we had imagined, and our brotherly affection and love not what we had hoped as we quibbled with our housemates during lockdowns.
During this year of pandemic, violence, and inequality, we may have learned that our faith is wobbly, our self-control lacking, our steadfastness quaking, our godliness not what we had imagined. Click To Tweet
If so, turn around and face Jesus again, repent, apologize to those you have offended, and begin again. Repeat this cycle as often as necessary. The Lord Jesus is a God of grace. Keep moving toward him, rather than away from his ways. This is evidence of Christ in you.
Turn around and face Jesus again, repent, apologize to those you have offended, and begin again. Repeat as often as necessary. The Lord Jesus is a God of grace. Keep moving toward him. This is evidence of Christ in you. Click To TweetFacing a cross of his own, Peter addressed Christ’s return in 2 Peter 3. These words are more significant than any guess we could possibly make about the timetable of his return. Our God fulfills every one of his promises, as he will most certainly fulfill the promise of his Son’s return.
Only God knows when.
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies / elements will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Peter 3:8-10).

We can’t imagine all of this being gone, the elements and the heavenly bodies burning up and dissolving. Not only will the core of the earth be exposed, but the core of our actions for all to see. When? How?
One God knows when.
“God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Number 23:19 ESV).
God works out his will in his own time. He doesn’t work according to days, hours, minutes, and seconds. These are constructs he created into our solar system for us alone. Time on this planet is based on the earth’s revolutions around the sun, which give us the days in a year, and the rotations the earth makes on its axis, which give us the hours in our days. Erase these, and we have no method for telling time.
When our pastor addressed this passage recently, he pointed out that every framework of time imaginable has no correlation whatsoever to how God works. In fact, we should turn away from any timeline that any human being has devised as an eschatological timetable or timeline of Christ’s return, because it will surely be flawed in at least one point or another.
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36 ESV).
“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:11-13 ESV).
Our capacity to understand The Coming, therefore, is governed by earthly realities. But all of these norms will be burned up and dissolved: earth and heavens, heavenly bodies and elements, days and years, all melted away. We can’t even begin to imagine what reality will be.
But these realities will remain:
- Whether we are growing toward loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves.
- Whether our lives demonstrate some measure of increasing holiness, purity, pursuit of Christ, and kindness.
- Whether we care for what God cares about: justice, mercy, the sick and imprisoned, the poor, immigrants/refugees, and the oppressed.
Who are we, and how have we lived? Do we live like people awaiting the return of Christ? Are we anticipating the new heavens and the new earth according to the Lord’s promise? Or are we so consumed with this current reality that we take no thought for others, for justice, or for mercy?
Do we live like people awaiting the return of Christ? Are we anticipating the fulfillment of the Lord's promise? Or are we so consumed with this current reality that we take no thought for others, for justice, or for mercy? Click To TweetThese passages are some of the most convicting in the New Testament.
“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation“ (2 Peter 3: 14-15a ESV).
These simple instructions inform us of the kind of persons the Lord intends and urges us to be. Will we grow? Will we be awaiting him with eagerness, filled with an intense desire for him? Paul also spelled out similar simple guidelines and revealed why the Lord has the timetable that he has chosen.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time“ (1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV).
He will come when all who are to be saved have been saved, and only God knows when that will be. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and Only Son. In the meantime, pray for our president, our president-elect, and all persons who are in high positions. Pray that we may live peaceful and quiet lives. Move toward Jesus and learn to love the world’s people as much as he did. Earnestly seek the Lord.
Are we prepared for The Coming? “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV).
Lord, thank you for this pandemic that is showing us all of our flaws, so that we might prepare ourselves through obedience, love, and kindness to be ready for your Coming. Make us ready, Lord. We cannot imagine what you’re doing and why, but we know that you are the sovereign Lord. Thank you for enduring the indignities of human life, taking on the cross to pay for our sins. Help us to love you more and to yearn for you in this life. Amen.
Lord, thank you for enduring the indignities of human life, taking on the cross to pay for our sins. Help us to love you more and to yearn for you in this life. Make us ready for your Coming. Amen. Click To Tweet
Amen. “Only God knows when.” Powerful message Melinda. I pray we all seek Him and show His love to others.
I’ve heard so many people making suppositions during this pandemic, Melissa, but I’m always reassured by the fact that “Only God knows when.” That fact comforts me, for the guesses made by our prognosticators are just that, guesses. Only God knows when, and it will be at just the right time that he has planned from before creation.
So so soooo good. “Do we live like people awaiting the return of Christ?” That’s a strong “ouch” question but so important to consider.
It was a question that I asked myself. I’m typically writing what my own heart needs to hear. Did I get lost in the horrific events of the year? Yes. Did I take my eyes of the future coming of our Lord and the wonder of his sovereign control of space and time? Yes. This is a reminder to myself, and I’m glad it also blessed you.
“We can’t imagine all of this being gone, the elements and the heavenly bodies burning up and dissolving. Not only will the core of the earth be exposed, but the core of our actions for all to see.”
I love that you made this connection. I think there are a lot of metaphors between the physical and spiritual.
So, we must wait, and pray, and trust, and draw near to God.
So true, Lisa! We cannot imagine it, and we must wait and pray and trust, as we draw ever nearer to God. So many metaphors between the physical and the spiritual as we are likewise stripped of all our finery and our habits and our patterns of living that get us stuck in ruts of mediocrity. To fix our eyes on the Lord’s Second Coming as we contemplate The Coming in Bethlehem was such an uplifting and encouraging meditation.
What a glorious day it will be when Jesus returns. We need to be prepared for no ones the hour or day. Great post and I appreciate the reminder. I pray to be ready for that day.
He could arrive at any time, and the challenges of this year seemed to drive that home. What a wonderful day that will be! I so agree! Being aware of the certainty of this coming reality and expecting it certainly impacts the way we live. Thanks for adding your thoughts, Yvonne!
The times sure seem to parallel Revelation in many ways don’t they. We need to keep our eyes and ears always tuned in to God’s Word and to what is happening around us and be ready.
Thankfully, the Lord Jesus gave us plenty of instruction about what we should be doing as we wait. The parable of the sheep and the goats tells us that we’re to visit those in prison, care for the sick, and open our arms to the refugee/immigrant. Loving one another, our family, those who need help, all of this is expected as we wait.
A very interesting perspective of our current times. Thank you.
A biblical perspective always lends insight to our circumstances. Only God knows when. He will use all of this as he sees fit as we move toward his Second Coming.
Melinda, you have me yearning ever more for Christ’s return. Though to be honest, the scriptures describe some frightening events. We cannot imagine the world melting away. However, what God said, will be. But we know that the One who created every beautiful detail of this world and carried out every sacrificially loving detail of our redemption on the cross, will bring about something that is more beautiful than we can imagine in the new heavens and earth. As this world appears more dreadful than ever before in my lifetime, may we long for our Savior’s return and be found worthy of His name as we do. You have encouraged us and reminded us of the absolute certainty of His return. May we living and loving fully for Him until that Day.
I feel the same about the direction the world is headed, Melissa, so it is with great joy and anticipation that I look forward to the Lord’s return and to his remaking of a new heaven and a new earth. What a blessing it will be to walk and talk and laugh with Jesus himself as we delight in all the wonders the Lord has planned for us and the tasks he has for us to do! What a day that will be when my Jesus I will see! Times like this prepare us for Christ’s return. Since the day he parted, and the church began to be persecuted as he was persecuted, this has been true. Since God fulfilled the promise of the first coming, he will certainly fulfill the promise of his second coming. It is certain, as you said! He wants us to be ready for it to occur any moment. In the twinkling of an eye we will be like him for we shall see him as he is!
Melinda, thanks for the wise and insightful words. As we wait, may we all “make every effort to supplement our faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” Blessings during this Advent season.
There’s plenty of room for much spiritual growth here, Anne. That list that we’re to make every effort to pursue in order to supplement our faith should keep us busy for the rest of our days, a daily challenge of walking in the Spirit. Blessings to you and yours during this season as well. I hope all are healthy in your family.
So beautifully and powerfully said! Love this: “Growth in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love are evidence of Christ in us.”
Oh, help is Lord grow in these ways and not falter in our faith.
And I’m so thankful God keeps His promises and we know Christ will return for His bride! Come quickly, Jesus!
The yearly remembrance of God the Son’s incarnation reminds of us of his personal involvement in all it means to be human. God is WITH US. The added benefit of knowing that he will come again to retrieve us and to bring us home is a powerful encouragement this Christmas season. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be like him, FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
What a word Melinda. I pray that I continue to use to present situation to continue to work on my relationship with God. So many events remind us that He could return at any moment.
Yes, Brittany! Each generation needs its own event to remind us of the need for his return and the urgency that he come soon! A pandemic and the challenges of the nation facing the fact that we STILL lag greatly in social justice is more than enough to cause us to yearn for Jesus’ return. Come, Lord Jesus! Come!
Thank you for this sobering yet hope-filled post. There is much talk of conspiracy today. There has been for decades. And predictions of the coming of our Lord are similar. We must spend more effort on growing in spiritual maturity than we do sorting out the facts. For we don’t have all the facts nor the capacity to piece them all together. Only God can do that, and only God knows when Jesus will return to take us home. And how unimaginably glorious that will be. But we live for Him, work on maturity, until that day.
Amen to that, Stephen! Just as when they predicted Christ’s first coming wrong, expecting him to be a conquering king, so are we surely predicting many of the parts of his return wrong, for we have no greater wisdom than the people of old who studied the Lord’s Word. He will come. That is certain. Only God knows when. What a glorious day that will be!