“Behold, I am coming soon.”
Do these words frighten you? Perhaps they should!
In the very next line of this passage from Revelation the author (John of Patmos) speaks of Christ bringing the “recompense he will give to each according to his deeds.” It was a message of reassurance to the first-century Christians whose persecutors would realize the Lord’s judgment against them.
Moreover, these martyrs had “washed their robes in the blood of the
Lamb” and would soon obtain their eternal reward. While it is not likely
that we will ever face martyrdom, we are all called to stand daily in
readiness for judgment. The Lord may, in fact, be coming to us soon. As
the gospels tell us repeatedly, we do not know the day or the hour.But what of our redemption?
John goes on to tell us that we are the Bride of Christ. The Bride represents the redeemed community of God’s people, the church. What a beautiful image of intimacy with God are we, the church. But do we live up to the level of loving to which we are called? As individuals and as a redeemed community, we are continually called to conversion. Our repentance does not end at the Lenten confessional door. We will, in fact, be made to render an account of our Christian living. Ours is a lifelong journey, one joined in Christ’s death, embracing his cross as we live out our faith.
Are we ready?
The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.
