分辨兆頭Discerning the Signs
[每日靈修] 10/31/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
關於耶穌將來要再臨的預言，滋生出許多宗教上的怪異扭曲，我們在許多基督徒當中目睹了一種很嚴重的對未來盼望的過度反應。我們當中一些人的生活，過得好像耶穌基督不會回來一般。我們粉飾過去並企圖凍結現在。但現在之所以至關重要，是由於未來。正是因為耶穌就要再臨，我們才知道我們現在正在做的事情是有價值的。
馬丁路德認為耶穌在他的時代就要再臨了。愛德華茲認為基督在十八世紀即將來臨。這兩個神學巨人都錯了。然而，祂再臨的時間比在路德時代更靠近了。逝去的每一天都會讓耶穌的再臨更加靠近。祂很可能很快就會再臨。
耶穌來的時候，我想做好準備。我希望像以利沙伯和馬利亞一樣，像西面和亞拿一樣，像那些準備好並留意基督顯現的人、像警醒的人、像注意時代兆頭的人、像懷抱著不會令他們難堪之盼望的人。他們渴望基督的公義。他們盼望祂國度的勝利。他們以一定的知識努力工作，知道他們的努力不會是徒勞無功的。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
當你今天代表天國努力工作時，請記住你的工作不會是徒勞無功的。
進一步研讀：
帖前四16～18 因為主必親自從天降臨，有呼叫的聲音和天使長的聲音，又有神的號吹響；那在基督裏死了的人必先復活。以後我們這活著還存留的人必和他們一同被提到雲裏，在空中與主相遇。這樣，我們就要和主永遠同在。所以，你們當用這些話彼此勸慰。
Discerning
the Signs
Predictions
about the future return of Jesus have spawned so many bizarre distortions of
religion that we have witnessed a severe overreaction among many Christians to
our future hope. Some of us live as if Jesus Christ is not coming back. We gild
the past and try to freeze the present. But the present is made crucial because
of the future. It is because Jesus is coming back that we know that what we are
doing in the present counts.
Martin
Luther thought Jesus was coming back in his day. Jonathan Edwards thought He
was near in the eighteenth century. Both of these titans were wrong. Yet the
time of His return is years closer than it was in Luther’s day. Each day that
passes makes the return of Jesus closer. It may well be very soon.
When
Jesus comes, I want to be ready. I want to be like Elizabeth and Mary, like
Simeon and Anna, people who were ready and watching for the appearance of
Christ, people who are vigilant, people who watch for the signs of the times
and have a hope that will not embarrass them. They long for the vindication of
Christ. They yearn for the triumph of His kingdom. They labor with the certain
knowledge that their labor is not in vain.
Coram
Deo
As
you labor today in behalf of the kingdom, remember that your work is not in
vain.
Passages
for Further Study
1
Thessalonians 4:16–18