Looking Unto Jesus
Or, Why God's Faithfulness Encourages Us to Keep Expecting the Bridegroom "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith"
(Hebrews 12:2).
by Tom Stewart
Preface
We, who have been "waiting for the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Corinthians 1:7), should have a greater appreciation than most of the Body's need of "looking unto Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2). When we are greatly hopeful that a particular date is the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Wise Virgins (Matthew 25), then we "abound" (Philippians 4:12).
When our understanding has been disappointed by a failed date, then we are "abased" (4:12). But, like the Apostle Paul, whether we are abased or abound, we have learned that we "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth" us (4:13).
If we continue "looking unto Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2), we will be strengthened "with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16).
Surely, our search of the Scriptures should have taught us of the great love that God must have for us to provide us "a way to escape" (1Corinthians 10:13) from the temptations of the Tribulation Week (Daniel 9:27).
When we have been disappointed by a failed date, we become the obvious target of the scoffers. "Where is the promise of His Coming?" (2Peter 3:4).
Not only do we become the target of scoffers from without, but we must deal with our failure in understanding the Word, the modern prophecies, and the signs, from within. "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).
To those who do not understand or sympathize with date setting, we lose additional esteem when our date fails. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh" (Ephesians 5:29).
To those who witness our day to day actions as being inconsistent with any attempt to make something of ourselves, we are as fools. "Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not" (Jeremiah 45:5).
To family members who do not feel as compelled to seek any particular timing to the Pre-Tribulational Rapture, we are as strangers. "Who is My mother, or My brethren? And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother" (Mark 3:33-35).
Our concern that we have stumbled a weak brother in Christ with our failed date tempts us to never again seek another date.
"A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory" (Matthew 12:20).
When we evaluate ourselves through the eyes of the world around us, then even we cannot understand why we must be so compelled to look for the soon appearing of the LORD, much less any particular date.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1Corinthians 2:14).
However, if we respond to the adversity of a missed date without still "looking unto Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2), then we will most surely draw back from the LORD.
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man drawback, My soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).
Has not our God been faithful to us so far? "God is faithful, by Whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our LORD" (1Corinthians 1:9).
Why should He not continue His faithfulness to us until we hear Him call us, "Come Up Hither" (Revelation 4:1)? "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it" (1Thessalonians 5:24).