Wait Management

Wait Management

Copyright 2021. Freely share as led. Courtesy CJ Marshall To God be all the glory.

Initially, the title of this tiny booklet was going to be: “Is It Worth the Weight?” The focus was to be on physical health — encouraging readers to consider the serious risks of gluttonous indulgence, asking some introspective questions like: “Is that extra slice (of whatever) really needed?” and “Is it worth the extra calories that will show up (somehow / somewhere / sometime) later?”

But diet is a very personal thing. And most people (including me) don’t like it when food choices are questioned — whether it’s smirking at our plates of healthful food or guilt-tripping us when we haven’t chosen wisely. Even “gentle nudges” seem like “pushes.” And while physical health is indeed a very crucial issue (and also a very spiritual one), we’re in the last days of Earth’s history; so there’s much more on our proverbial plate than what’s for lunch. Therefore, the Holy Spirit inspired me to “change the subject.”

When I consented, a similar-yet-different title came to mind: “Worth the Wait?” That booklet was to be more openly spiritual. Its rhetorical question “Will Heaven be worth the wait?” prompted not only the obvious answer (Yes!) but the reminder that it’s not merely we who are waiting. For Christ is waiting on us — to reflect His image and thus be more fit for Heaven. Otherwise, should He come beforehand, we’d be lost. Eternal separation from Him. No eternal life.

Since Jesus is waiting, a question could be: “Are WE worth the wait?” To Him, we obviously are. He wouldn’t have suffered a cruel death for us if we weren’t. (Of course, it is CHRIST’S perfection that makes any human worthy of eternal life.) So, that booklet would have been quite short: Is HEAVEN worth the wait? Absolutely! Are WE worth the wait? Not really. But Jesus is our righteousness, and He’s patiently waiting and interceding, pleading with His Father on our behalf — until we finally die to sin, choosing Him. The End. So, a different angle and title were needed.

Naturally, while contemplating Heaven, questions like these had come to my mind: ● How are we preparing to leave this planet? ● Do we really long for Heaven as we should? ● Or will we “look back” when Christ returns? ● What on Earth is holding us down, distracting us from Heaven and delaying our going there? ● How do we manage the remaining time here? With those thoughts, the final title came: “Wait Management” Though a word-play on the original subject of weight management, the focus is not examining overeating; nor is it warning about “fast food.”

Instead, it would explore how “fast-paced” societies foster impatience, and how we humans tend to not like waiting: ● in line ● or for an answer ● for a delivery ● for an email ● for water to boil ● for the phone to ring ● or basically anything! Naturally, the spiritual analogy would then analyze the best uses of our time while waiting for Christ’s Second Coming.

But since Jesus is mostly waiting for most of us, the main questions would need to range (or simply change) from: “What are we doing while waiting for Jesus?” to “What is He doing while waiting for us?” The short answer wouldn’t provide a complete picture. A tiny booklet explanation wouldn’t be sufficient. But thankfully, Christ’s Intercession on our behalf is far more than sufficient.

The fair and thorough Investigative Judgment, which is currently taking place in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary, lovingly considers every single factor. And thankfully, the Lord is ever so merciful. I suggest, however, that we all be merciful to Him, by not making Him wait much longer. Our Redeemer COULD indeed wait forever. But graciously, He won’t. That wouldn’t be fair to those who’ve faithfully been “waiting in line.” The bottom line: Christ is coming soon. What are we doing with our (and His) “waiting time”?

Freely share this booklet as end-time encouragement (or maybe “a gentle nudge”) while there’s still time.

HeavenAndHealth.info