Editorial
Watching - Waiting - Working
by
David Snyder - President/General Director
As I thought and prayed about the 2025 theme for BIMI, my mind kept going to the many worldwide events that seem to be escalating almost daily. Seeing what is happening globally, I cannot help but believe the Lord’s return is very soon. While I was contemplating world events and the return of Christ, three major responsibilities came to my mind—watching, waiting, and working. These three actions are needed more now than ever before. Not only do these three words make up the theme for this year but also they encapsulate what all Christians should be doing during these last days in which we are living.
First, we need to be expectantly
watching for the Lord’s return. I hate being blindsided by something I should have seen coming. None of us need to be surprised by the Rapture since the Lord has given us multiple reminders that His coming is soon. Peter wrote,
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (1 Peter 4:7). If the Lord’s coming were at hand in Peter’s day, it is surely at hand today. There is a definite connection between watching for the Lord’s return and fulfilling the Great Commission. In 2 Peter 3, Peter addresses the scoffers who were mocking
the promise of his coming (2 Peter 3:4). Peter explains that the reason for any
seeming delay in Christ’s return is God’s longsuffering desire to see more people saved (2 Peter 3:9). So, if I am truly watching for Christ, I will be about the business of witnessing for Christ because of His desire
that all should come to repentance before His return.
Second, we need to be patiently
waiting on the Lord’s plan. That is, as God works out His ultimate plan for this world, we should follow His example of being longsuffering. I am not naturally patient when it comes to waiting. This is especially true when it involves not knowing why or how long I will have to wait. Sometimes we can become impatient as we see the prosperity of the wicked and the increasing evil around us. But Psalm 37 exhorts us to
rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him . . . For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth (Psalm 37:7, 9). The psalmist continues this thought by saying, the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11). Knowing God has an eternal plan for this world helps us to meekly wait while enjoying a peace that passes all understanding. While God’s peace comforts me, it also challenges me. As I enjoy the peace of God, I am reminded that it is my responsibility to preach the Gospel of Peace to those who do not have peace with God. Again, this is the Great Commission. After summarizing missions in just two verses, Paul proclaims,
“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:14–15). Until the Lord returns, we are to be patiently waiting on Him, having our
feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15).
Finally, we need to be constantly
working in the Lord’s harvest field. Laziness is a character trait that bothers me tremendously—whether I see it in myself or in others. As Christians, we cannot afford to be lazy. We must be always
abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthains 15:58). This is true because there is an overwhelming amount of work to be done, there is a desperate need for workers, and there is very little time to work. This situation would not be serious if our assignment were optional and/or unimportant. However, the job I am referring to is the Great Commission that Jesus gave while promising His literal return to earth. He has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel of Peace to every creature. We are to be proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the only way to have peace with a longsuffering God Who desires all mankind to come to repentance. No doubt, this job has been complicated by world events. However, the need to do this job has also been escalated by those same events.
As we consider watching and waiting, thoughts may come to mind of sitting down and doing nothing but looking toward the horizon. However, I submit that if we are biblically watching and waiting for the Lord, we will naturally be working for the Lord. Watching and waiting should not produce inactivity but rather intensity. Knowing that His time on earth was short, Jesus said,
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). Our time on earth is short—very short in comparison to eternity. This should motivate us to be watching, waiting, and working for our soon returning Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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