I turned to him and said, “I’ve waited my whole life to meet you.” It was 2003, and I was visiting a popular theme park for the first time. Standing there between the park’s two most famous characters to have my picture taken, I felt something was happening that I would remember forever.
And I have remembered it, and though I do remember how I felt in that moment, I now see the experience in light of something far more important.
Recently, what I said that day back in 2003 came to my mind, and I thought, there is a day coming when I should be able to look up and say to our returning Lord, “I’ve waited my whole life to meet You.”
I wish that I could meet Jesus with those words, but sadly, I—maybe you, too—have spent too much of my life involved in, busy with, enamored by the world. It was not my life’s work, early on, to develop the relationship with Jesus that would result in the formation of the character needed to meet Him on that not-so-distant morning.
There are no do-overs in this life. Time wasted with worldly things is time lost, never to be recovered, leaving less time to spend with Jesus. I have a picture of me with that theme park character, but am I ready to meet Jesus when He comes? We all have something that is part of this world that is special to us—a job, a home, family, friends, sports, internet games, social media, a picture with someone famous, or even being famous—but are we working toward the one thing we need most, a perfected character?
“If we would at last share the reward of the righteous, we must wisely improve the time of our probation. Moments are more precious than gold. …
“The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. We have but a little time in which to make ready. … We need a close connection with God. We are not safe a moment unless guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit. …
“Life, with its marvelous privileges and opportunities, will soon be ended. The time for improvement in character will be past. …
“Life is short. The things of the world must perish with the using. Let us be wise, and build for eternity. We cannot afford to idle away our precious moments, or engage in busy activities that will bring forth no fruit for eternity. Let the time hitherto devoted to idleness, frivolity, worldliness, be spent in gaining a knowledge of the Scriptures, in beautifying our life … .” Our High Calling, 187
“God has not revealed to us the time when this message [the third angel’s] will close, or when probation will have an end. …
“When Jesus rises up in the most holy place, and lays off His mediatorial garments, and clothes Himself with the garments of vengeance in place of the priestly attire, the work for sinners will be done. …
“The case of every soul will have been decided. …
“We have no time to lose. We know not how soon our probation may close. … Christ is soon to come.
“When probation ends, it will come suddenly, unexpectedly—at a time when we are least expecting it. But we can have a clean record in heaven today, and know that God accepts us; and finally, if faithful, we shall be gathered into the kingdom of heaven.” The Faith I Live By, 215
Lord, help us to see our desperate need of Your transforming power. Give us a sense of urgency, to be made ready for heaven.