Will we wish we would have known?

While I love much of the wording of the song I introduced yesterday, I find this verse odd and yet so us…

Hope that you don’t mind our manger…

How I wish we would have known…

But long awaited Holy Stranger…

make yourself at Home…

Please make Yourself at Home.*

It is odd to me because I think through these things post-Resurrection.

With years of Bible study that started with flannel boards and VBS.

A searching to know Him more that has led me through some deep valleys and some winding roads…

some treks off the path, sometimes far off the path, and yet when I wandered…

by His Grace and Mercy, and only by His Grace that I never stopped loving Him

(although that He didn’t stop loving me is something that humbles me and leaves me filled with awe and wonder).

I wonder how anyone could say they wished they would have known.

Because how could they have not known?

With all the prophecies and all the expectations for a Messiah…how could they not have known?

But they didn’t.

Because they were looking for what they thought Messiah would be…and a baby born to a poor father and young mother in a stable…this was not what He should look like.

And so yes, they were unprepared.

Even though all the signs pointed to it.

Not to mention the angels.

And men from the East.

They were unprepared.

As are we.

We have been given all kinds of information about what things are going to look like prior to His Return and yet we, even we in the Church, are constantly using language and ideas that will leave us shaking our heads when He arrives to take us home, mumbling…

wow…how we wish we would have known.

Instead, I pray that we would begin to see the signs for what they are and stop trying to fix things or figure things out as to why this or that is happening.

And instead that we, who follow Christ, would strive to focus on how He has told us to live while we wait.

Because the problem with His first coming was that people wanted to believe what they wanted to believe.

And it would appear many will do the same for His Second Coming.

But you…and I … how will we live?

“Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?

Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival.

The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice.

We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace.

Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation.

Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing.

Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way.

They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

 But you, friends, are well-warned.

Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers.

Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.Glory to the Master, now and forever!

Yes!”

2 Peter 3:11-18  The Message

How will we live while we wait?

*With all credit to Chris Rice…and all copy write apologies because I am not making a dime off of this and I would hope and pray he wouldn’t mind us being encouraged by his God-inspired lyrics….I hope to finish my pondering of that song with you in the days leading up to Christmas <3