How Long, O Lord, How Long?

“Behold, I am coming quickly“   Revelation 22:12

Quickly – The return of the King seems like it has taken forever.  If you’re like me, there are days when you just wish Jesus would arrive and all this struggle would end.  Of course, many felt this way before I was born.  I’m glad Jesus waited until I got here.  That gives me pause.  If He waited for me, why shouldn’t I wish Him to wait for someone else?  Still, it seems like a long time.

Then I discover something about this Greek word, tachu.  It is used in Revelation six times.  In each case, it could also be translated “suddenly.”  In fact, if we think of God’s intervention in kairos time, then “suddenly” is far more appropriate than “quickly,” because “quickly” is an adjective that resides in the chronos world.  “Quickly” implies speeding up the temporal order.  But “suddenly” implies that at any moment the world we know could end in a rush of divine invasion.  “Quickly” leads me to think in terms of “how much longer” (how many more days or years).  Then I start counting, and looking for temporal signs.  I start to anticipate and plan.  If I only knew enough of the symbols, I might even be able to mark it on my calendar:  “Jesus arrives on this day.”  How foolish.  Yet, we are tempted to accept this view when we forget that fulfilled time is kairos, not chronos.  “Suddenly” the Son will come, in all His resplendent glory, upsetting every planned event and every predicted outcome.  He will inject kairos divinity into this world on a cosmic scale.  All creation will rejoice.

Yes, Lord, come suddenly. 

With that in mind, my sense of urgency explodes.  Jesus is not in a rush, but I am.  There is so much to do before He arrives.  There are people who need His grace.  There are the poor who need His favor.  There are injustices to be corrected.

“Lord, I was wrong.  I know that You will come suddenly, but, please Lord, delay just a little longer, just until I have had the time to reach one more, teach one more, bless one more, in Your name.  After I have done all Your bidding, then, Lord, then come suddenly.”