You Complete Me

I am not sure where the expression “You complete me” originates. It was certainly popularized by the movie, “Jerry Maguire,” where Tom Cruise’s character declares it to Renée Zellweger. It is the foolish notion that we can be “whole” if we find our “other half,” our “soul mate”—that person who fills our longings. Only God can do that. In fact, He who began His good work within you, promises to complete it (Phil. 1:6).

 
That's not to say, however, that God doesn't use people in the process. Through personal interactions (that seem to bring out the worst in us), we are made painfully aware of the work God must do in us to fit us together in faith and knowledge until we measure up to the standard of perfection, Christ. (Eph. 4:13).
 
So as God completes us individually, He fits us into the ‘whole’ until it is perfectly fit for Christ (Eph. 4:16; 5:27; Col. 2:10). So then it is not so terribly wrong to say to one another, “you complete me.”

When Troubles abound, our Hearts Long for Home

It seems like everyone Altha and I know is experiencing severe distress: physical, financial, relational. Is it possible these increased troubles are evidence the Lord is pruning, purging, and purifying His church for His eminent return (1 Peter 4:12-13; 1 Cor. 11:31-32; Heb. 12:5-11)?

After all, isn't it the purpose of the Holy Spirit to prepare the Bride for the return of her Bridegroom? So He can present her to Christ, without spot, wrinkle, or blemish (Eph. 5:27).

If, in the end times, the love of many will grow cold (Matt. 24:12), doesn't it make sense He will do everything necessary to increase the longing of our heart for “home” and for “Him” (Phil. 1:21-23)? Is it possible the severity of our trials means His Return is near? Do you find yourself more often than you used to, looking at each other at the end of one of those hard days, and saying, “Is He coming soon”(Rev. 22:7, 20)? 

Are You Enraptured?

Can you imagine an army captain telling his wife he will soon return from the war in Afghanistan, only to hear her say, “Can you wait for a while before returning; I’m busy.” When Christ returns for His Bride, she will be “looking forward to, or earnestly desiring, the day and hurrying it along,” NLT, ASV, (2 Pet 3:12). The Bride Christ returns to, and for, will be ecstatic—not indifferent.

 

Whenever I write about the rapture, the number of my reader goes up. People are curious. But how many believers are enraptured with the thought? If you’re like me, your desire for His return increases with hard circumstances, and decreases with soft ones! And if we are really “strangers and aliens” in this world, why do our preachers focus their sermons on helping us to live smarter and better on earth, a “me-centered’ gospel that asks 'what can God do for me?' Take a look at $ million Christian book titles, “Every Day a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week, or “Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life” or, “God Wants You Happy.” Will these ‘reads’ have you panting for the return of Jesus?

 

Does this mean Christ won't return until things on earth are hard enough, individually and corporately, to dispel ambivalence and incite passion? It might, if the condition for His return is a heart-rending love-hunger. Does the Lover of our souls deserve anything less? The crown of righteousness awaits all those who eagerly look forward to His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8).

The Second Coming vs. the Rapture

I always found it confusing that Jesus could return at any moment, yet can’t return until the “gospel is preached in the whole world” (Matt. 24:14). But recently I discovered that this refers to the 2nd Coming—not the Rapture. After all, Jesus warned even the ‘first’ generation of believers to be ready (Mat 24:36, 44; Rev 3:3). 

But the 2nd Coming occurs at the end of the Tribulation.  And there's a prophecy  that says during that time God will send an angel to proclaim the gospel to every person on earth (Rev. 14:6).  Problem solved.  Right?!



Well, I am not naïve; I know there are different interpretations of how end-time events will unfold.  But I do know this. Regardless of how and when these events will occur, one thing is perfectly clear: the Groom wants a Bride who is eagerly waiting and longing for Him to return (Titus 2:13; 2 Tim 4:8).

Waiting for Christmas Day

The word “Christmas” is a compound word made up of the name “Christ” plus the word “mass”—which means celebration. "Christ" is not a name as much as a Greek word or title, meaning "anointed"—equivalent to the Hebrew word "Messiah." Based on the words of the prophets, the Jews of Palestine were waiting for the day they would celebrate the promised Messiah—they were waiting for Christmas.

Although Jesus came 2,000 years ago to deliver us from sin, we are yet waiting for His second coming when He will truly be celebrated by Israel (and the whole world) as the Messiah. It is then we will truly celebrate Christ—it will be the authentic Christmas! And that ‘day’ will go on forever.

But that Christmas day will only be celebrated by those who love His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8), who have been eagerly waiting for His glory and to be revealed as His sons (Rom. 8:18-19). On that Christmas day death and sin will be no more (1 Cor. 15:54). On that Christmas day we will be changed forever (1 Cor. 15:51), and receive eternal rewards (1 Cor. 3:14; Rev. 22:12). On that Christmas day, we will be given to Jesus by the Father as His long-awaited present—His virgin Bride (2 Cor. 11:2). We are still waiting for that Christmas—when the curse will be lifted, the saints glorified, Christ worshiped, and the whole creation liberated.

What a sadly watered-down version of Christmas day most people (even Christians!) will be celebrating tomorrow—without fully appreciating the one yet to come: the Christmas day we are waiting for.

When will Jesus return?

The Mayan calendar ends on Sunday, December 23, 2012. Is that the end of the world? Harold Camping of Family Radio now proclaims the Lord's return will be on October 20, 2011! A friend of mine who is a biblical scholar says “Many of us who follow world affairs and try to be well-read in eschatology strongly believe the coming of Jesus Christ for His (true) Church is very likely to happen any day now.”

How do we know the time is near for Jesus to claim His Bride?

The long answer won’t fit in this venue! But here’s the short answer: When His Bride is ready (Rev. 19:7); when she is spotless (Eph. 5:27; 1 Pet. 3:14); when she loves Him passionately and longs to be with Him (John 17:26; Sng. of Sol. 4:9). A primary role of the Holy Spirit is to prepare the Bride for Jesus' return.

What kind of bride do you think the Spirit wants to present to Jesus on that day? One who is halfhearted, lukewarm, ambivalent? My friends, we are being prepared for the marriage supper (Rev. 19:9). But will He return to a Bride whose heart does not cry out, "Come, Lord Jesus…."? (1 Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:17, 20)

“I Only Have Eyes for You!”

Behold, you are fair, my love! … You have doves’ eyes." (Song of Solomon 1:15).

A dove has a single eye, that is, no peripheral vision; it can only see one thing at a time. When a dove sets its gaze upon another dove, it sees nothing else, nor is it easily distracted. The single eye of the dove also reflects its nature as a “love bird” because of lifelong monogamous devotion.

Many biblical scholars interpret the love poem, Song of Solomon, allegorically as Jesus and His bride (the Church). Whether you agree with this or not, certainly Jesus as our groom deserves a bride who is single-mindedly devoted to Him—one who has doves’ eyes.

Soon Jesus will return for you, His Bride. While you wait for your groom, are your eyes fixed on Him (Heb 12:2)? We are living in a time in history like none other, constantly assaulted with sensualized images through our PCs, TVs, magazine covers, billboards, and more. The temptation, called the “lust of the eyes” (1 John 2:16), has never been more seductive nor forceful than in these days. In many ways, countless people are held captive by the lust of the eyes—materialism, beauty, celebrity, power, sex.

Let’s not forget how Eve succumbed to the Serpent’s deception when he opened her eyes to something other than God—the Bible says the fruit was a delight to her eyes. Could this be what Paul had in mind with this warning: I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent (2 Cor. 11:3)?