Now is the time to remember what’s ahead and what to do while we wait
By Dean Collins
Jesus told a few parables about tenant farmers on a property whose owners went on long trips and left others in charge of investing money on their behalf. All of this teaching was a way Jesus used to prepare his disciples then and now to live in the time between his ascension and his second coming.
Anticipating
Luke describes the scene in the last few verses of his Gospel. Jesus reminded the disciples of the many things he had taught them. He then reminded them of his suffering on the cross, his death, and his obvious resurrection as he stood before them. He told them and us that we all are his witnesses on earth today. Then he blessed the disciples and gave them instructions to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit before he departed in the clouds.
The writer of Hebrews picks up probably 30-40 years later. After 12 chapters of reminding us who Jesus is and what he has done for us, the writer of Hebrews summarizes how we should be living while we wait for the ultimate return of Jesus. Things had gotten harder for the early church as persecution and suffering increased under Rome’s authority. Christ-followers in the last half of the first century needed encouragement not to lose hope and not to forget their mission.
Today we live in a world that continues to change. We experience encroachment of values and morals that are less than we are called to follow. We need the same encouragement and reminders of how to live now while we wait for the return of Jesus.
Loving
Hebrews 13 opens with a summary sentence that guides all the particulars that follow: “Let brotherly love continue.”
The implication is that those who have chosen to follow Jesus are in fact loving others. This means that love must inform our every action. While we wait for the return of Christ we must continue to love. We can see in the verses that follow verse 1 that the categories of people we love include some we often forget.
• Strangers. I suspect this category includes more than some mysterious person hanging out at your mailbox or wandering the street near your office. Strangers include those who are different than us by race, skin color, denominational affiliation, citizenship, country of origin, and on and on. In every one of these categories, we find the people God loves and Christ died to redeem and restore. Hebrews reminds us to be kind, loving, and hospitable because we may never realize who they are and how God is using them. Hebrews suggests they may even be angels. We have several examples of scripture where Bible characters did not recognize spiritual beings. I am not beyond believing that may still be true. The writer of Hebrews believed it possible.
• Those in prison. Our first impulse might be that those in prison got the time for the crime they committed. And while that’s often true, there are numerous examples of prisoners wrongly accused and of punishments not equitable. But even if the prisoner’s sentence is just, in the kingdom of God we are called to love, greet, and pray for prisoners. Jesus said as much in Matthew 25 and showed loving forgiveness of a criminal beside him on Calvary’s hill.
• Our spouses. Of course we are to love the person we married! But our love for Christ compels us to be wholly devoted to them in every way. There is no room for sexual behavior outside of marriage according to scripture. Hebrews tells us what we already know: There will be many who are sexually immoral. But note that many Christians tend to make sexual sin the ultimate point of spiritual failure. Hebrews reminds us that being a lover of money is also a form of faithlessness. When we choose gaining more and more wealth as the ultimate prize, we may have very well slipped into idolatry.
• Our leaders. Our spiritual leaders and those who lead in a variety of other areas are to be respected and treated with brotherly love. We must learn to love even when we disagree on policy or strategy. And if we ever hope to influence leaders, we will be far more effective in bringing about change through kindness and respect than by judgment and condemnation.
Hebrews quotes from the Old Testament scriptures reminding us, “The lord is our helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” God will be our resource and strength to love others. We must come to every person by the power of the love of Christ, knowing that God will show us how and help us to do his will in every human relationship.
Serving
Ultimately, Jesus will return to make all things right once and for all. The temporary will be shaken away. The permanent will remain. Hebrews ends reminding us to do good always and to serve with joy without complaining. (Ouch!) We are to pray always and allow God’s kingdom to come through us until that time when Jesus returns. Here is the prayer that ends this important book of the New Testament. May it be our prayer today as we continue to practice brotherly love:
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Your time with God’s Word
Luke 24:44-53; Hebrews 13:1-21 ESV
Photo by Laura Vinck at unsplash.com
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