A couple of people have asked me something based on the content of yesterday's message at WBC (Luke 18:1-8 - "Prayer Conditioned: The Second Coming of Christ"). In the message I argued that God's elect will be recognized when Jesus returns by their longing for Him. In other words, genuine believers have a deep desire in their soul to want to be with and see and enjoy their Savior for eternity. The question that I have been asked relating to this is, "Is it wrong to want Jesus to delay in returning so that others might have an opportunity to respond?"
Being that I have had the same question asked by different people, I thought others might be curious as well.
For anyone interested, below is a modified version to a response I sent to one of the inquirers via e-mail. Perhaps it will help...
"Yes, it is totally right to pray for people you love to know Christ prior to His return. Nothing at all wrong with that! This is why, I believe, Jesus is patient in returning now (see 2 Peter 3:9). So, YES, pray and long and hurt for those who do not know Christ to know Him quickly! The apostle Paul himself said in Romans 9:1-3 that, if possible, he would wish to be cursed and cut off from Christ if it would mean the salvation of his fellow Jews. He hurt for them to know Christ.
"Having said that, however, it is possible to make ministry and evangelism and 'good stuff' our god instead of the One, true and living God. The genuine believer longs to know and be with Christ more than anything else in the universe. This doesn't mean we don't love our lost friends and family members. I think you can do both. In fact, the same Paul who wrote what I mentioned above in Romans 9 also wrote in Philippians 1:23 that he wished he could depart and be with Christ (for that was far better!). So, I think we have to live with the tension. Doesn't Jesus even say in several places in the Gospels that when one comes to Him he/she must hate mom, dad, sister, brother, etc.? This, of course, does not at all mean we should not long for them to know Christ...but it does mean Christ MUST be first and foremost in all of our thoughts and affections and relationships, etc. Make sense?
"The main point (I think!) of the passage I preached yesterday was that when Jesus returns, those who are His will be recognized by their love and passion and longing for Him. It will change the way we pray and live and think and pursue.
"So, keep praying for those you love to know Christ. Keep diligently telling them the Gospel. But do it while you grow in a love and knowledge of Jesus, that fosters a greater longing to be with Him for eternity."
"Having said that, however, it is possible to make ministry and evangelism and 'good stuff' our god instead of the One, true and living God. The genuine believer longs to know and be with Christ more than anything else in the universe. This doesn't mean we don't love our lost friends and family members. I think you can do both. In fact, the same Paul who wrote what I mentioned above in Romans 9 also wrote in Philippians 1:23 that he wished he could depart and be with Christ (for that was far better!). So, I think we have to live with the tension. Doesn't Jesus even say in several places in the Gospels that when one comes to Him he/she must hate mom, dad, sister, brother, etc.? This, of course, does not at all mean we should not long for them to know Christ...but it does mean Christ MUST be first and foremost in all of our thoughts and affections and relationships, etc. Make sense?
"The main point (I think!) of the passage I preached yesterday was that when Jesus returns, those who are His will be recognized by their love and passion and longing for Him. It will change the way we pray and live and think and pursue.
"So, keep praying for those you love to know Christ. Keep diligently telling them the Gospel. But do it while you grow in a love and knowledge of Jesus, that fosters a greater longing to be with Him for eternity."
