Day 58: Welcome to the Threshold
Read: Genesis 8:6-9
“In-between” periods can be uncomfortable or awkward. You may be in your in-between period right now. You may be waiting to get that perfect job offer, waiting to hear back from a school, or waiting to find love. This in-between period can get uncomfortable. We can be eager to rush into the next thing instead of resting in the here and now which is presented to us for a reason.
The period of time after the rain stopped and before Noah could leave the ark was an in-between period known as the second creation. He was waiting on the Lord to give him the next move. Noah sent forth a raven and then a dove to see if the water had subsided (Gen 8:7-8), but it hadn’t, and he had to wait for over two months until him and his family could exit the ark. He was in a waiting period.
We are all, in a certain sense, in a waiting period. We are in the Church Age, as believers. We are currently living in a period of time after Pentecost in Acts 2 but before the second coming of Christ (Christ’s bodily return to the earth in glory and triumph). The “Church Age” is the period of time that the Church, which consists of believers everywhere, are still on earth. From the words of the Nicene Creed, “We believe in one, holy, catholic, apostolic Church.” This means that all believers are one Church and together we are awaiting Christ’s return.
The Church Age is important because of God’s promises for us. Jesus predicts the Church Age in Matthew 16:18 when He says, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The Church has been growing for almost 2,000 years since Jesus said that! The Holy Spirit’s permanent indwelling in believers is the mark that characterizes the Church Age.
This is such good news! Waiting is so important. While we are waiting for Christ to return, we have a very important mission. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 talks about the job we were given as believers to proclaim the gospel to others. But here is the best news: in verse 20, Jesus promises to be with us until the end of the age. We are not alone in this. In fact, we can’t do it alone. We must pray for God to speak through us and to use us for His glory.
Until Jesus comes again and we are raptured into heaven with Him, we must stand firm and persevere in the faith. Then we will be experiencing an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory as Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17.
What are you eager to move on from today? What can you take from this waiting period you are in? Is God trying to teach you something? This is the day that the Lord has made for you. Rejoice and be glad in it.