Waiting Rooms

Aren’t waiting rooms frustrating? Any time we are taking a trip to the doctor we always hope we will not have to be in the waiting room very long, but that is rarely the case. Some waiting rooms have TVs or magazines to help pass the time, and the good ones have free WiFi. Has it ever occurred to you that waiting is inevitable in a waiting room? Everything about it tells you that you are going to have to wait. If they planned on getting you right in, they wouldn’t subscribe to magazines and pay for cable. We might get frustrated while we wait, but the room is literally called a waiting room. That’s the entire purpose of the room. 

In a similar way, as Christians who believe in the return of Christ, we may have a tendency to get frustrated while we wait for the rapture. Jesus promised to come back for the church, but it has been two thousand years. Why is He taking so long? Why won’t He just hurry up?

But think about it: Jesus told us we are going to have to wait. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins Jesus spoke about the need to watch and be ready, because “no one knows the day or the hour” that He will return (Matthew 25:13). To illustrate this truth Jesus used an analogy of bridesmaids waiting for the groom to let them know that the wedding was going to begin, but “as the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept (v.5).” 

That little detail is so important. Jesus is the bridegroom in that parable, and He said He was going to be delayed in His return. Just as the waiting room should not surprise us because it is literally called a waiting room, the delay in the rapture should not surprise us because Jesus literally said He would be delayed. People may scoff and say, “Well, they’ve been saying for years Jesus will come back, and He hasn’t yet, so you’re crazy for believing He will.” Jesus said He would delay His coming to the point where people become drowsy and sleep, nodding off instead of watching and waiting. 

Here’s the reason for the delay: every day He waits He is giving someone else the chance to get ready. Peter said, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).” Some may think He is dragging His feet or being slow, but God is actually just being merciful and patient. 

Maybe He has delayed His coming so that you have one more chance to get ready. If that is you, then don’t put it off another day; today may be your last chance.