Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus

“It was hit by a rocket: MH17’s final moments – The attack Thursday afternoon killed 298 people from nearly a dozen nations — including vacationers, students and a large contingent of scientists heading to an AIDS conference in Australia.”

“U.N. accuses Islamic State of executions, rape, forced child recruitment in Iraq”

“’Cannibal nurse’ trial jury retires”

“Inside Gaza: Constant Airstrikes And Shelling”

They were just a few news headlines that I picked up quickly on this morning. I could have picked up similar headlines at almost any time. The names and places might be different, perhaps based in Africa rather than the Middle East, or about kidnapping in South America, or care homes in the UK, but the ‘song’ would be the same. It is not hard to find plenty of symptoms of this world’s sickness.

Paul’s words in Romans 8 are as true now as they were then, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains” (Romans 8.22).

It is with all of this in mind that I read passages in the Bible about the end times. The sort of passages that I find in Romans 8 and story of the wheat and the weeds in Matthew 13. I all see the horrors that are part of this world: human horrors like rape and war, and natural horrors like cancer and Alzheimer’s – I see these horrors and I cry out ‘why?’ I cry out ‘stop!’

It’s not just me, Christians and non-Christians are just as outraged. We all want a better, peaceful, world: A world of love and joy. I want it, most people want it; but we don’t like the sound of the medicine.

I want a better world, but I get nervous when I hear God’s plan to sort it, “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13.41-43)

I think, “I want a better world, but will I be righteous enough to be part of it?”

I think, “It will be great to get rid of the men and women of hate and violence’. But then I think, “there but for the grace of God go I”.

I think, “What chance does a boy have growing up in a violent or abusive home”.

But still I want a better world. I want a world without pain, or crying, or mourning (Revelation 21), so I pray for Jesus to return and for the whole of creation to be set free from its pain. I know that the God I worship is loving and wise beyond any wisdom that I could ever posses. I know that God is to be trusted: So I trust God with my future and that of all things. I do all that I can to be a more holy person, and encourage others to do the same, then I trust the rest to God.

I can’t figure out quite how he will do it, but I do know that it will be alright. I know that because I know I know the Father and the Son now, through the Holy Spirit.

I hear:

“It was hit by a rocket: MH17’s final moments – The attack Thursday afternoon killed 298 people from nearly a dozen nations — including vacationers, students and a large contingent of scientists heading to an AIDS conference in Australia.”

“U.N. accuses Islamic State of executions, rape, forced child recruitment in Iraq”

“’Cannibal nurse’ trial jury retires”

“Inside Gaza: Constant Airstrikes And Shelling”

I also hear these words from the Revelation 21: “‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’”

I then know that there is a better way, a better world; and pray with tears, “Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus”