But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight…This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. (Acts 1: 8-9,11b)
As we approached the beginning of 2022, there was talk spread over social circles about whether this would be the year our normal life would be returning. I’ll admit I’ve wondered this as well, but why are we as humans so quick to hope for our “normal” to return to us? There is something comfortable about what we feel is normal to us, isn’t there? But with that comfort, complacency is often an all too familiar companion.
Now, I don’t know if the world will ever return to what most people think of as “normal”, but I do know that Jesus is returning and His moment of return is closer than ever. As Christians, we don’t need to nor should we be looking for the comforts of “normal life” because we’re merely sojourners in this foreign land, and we should be busy about our master’s business while we await His return for us.
We have the Holy Spirit and Jesus told us plainly that we are to be His witnesses all the way to the end of the earth. Soldiers don’t bother with civilian issues, and neither should we as soldiers in God’s army, concern ourselves with when “normal life” will return to society as we know it. Whether normal life as we knew it does or doesn’t return, our mission remains the same – be Jesus’ witnesses, making disciples and bringing God glory in all that we do.
My friend, will you purpose in your heart to keep your eyes looking forward at Jesus, your feet walking forward in the good works God has prepared for you, fighting the good fight armed with the full armor of God, and loving people by sharing the good news of the gospel in truth and love?
At the coming of Jesus, may all you do be found to be gold, silver, and precious stones when tried by fire, and may you hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”