One day, when I was 12 years old, I remember staring out of the picture window of our home as I listened to my mother tell me what she knew about Jesus Christ’s return. It was 1974, and she had recently become interested in God’s Truth. Until then my family was not religious, although we colored Easter eggs and celebrated Christmas.
I vividly remember the utter sadness and despair I felt that day. As my mother talked, I kept telling myself, “I can’t believe it.” What she thought was exciting meant the opposite to me. All I heard was that the world I knew—the friends I had, the fun I was having, the house we lived in, our dog and cat, the mountains, the trees, my family—all of it—was coming to an end. That was the last thing I wanted to hear at that age! I mean, my life had just begun. I did not want Jesus Christ to return.
Maybe you feel the same when you hear about the soon-coming Kingdom of God. You have so much to look forward to! And perhaps you feel guilty for thinking this way because others seem to be excited about it.
This article is for preteens, teenagers and young adults—those who have their whole lives ahead of them. No matter how old you are, I have come to believe that you can—and should—see the return of Jesus Christ, pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, as a good thing. I want to share with you my experience of “growing up” in the church, along with some lessons learned, to show that you can enjoy your life and want Jesus Christ’s return.
Introduction to the Truth
Some months before the occasion at the picture window, my mother began watching The World Tomorrow telecast every weekday morning between the time she would see my father off to work and wake me and my brothers up to get ready for school. I vividly remember hearing through the closed doors of my bedroom the opening theme music blaring out a triumphant tune and an announcer stating that the show revealed the mysteries of the Bible and unlocked the prophecies of the soon-coming kingdom of God—or words to that effect.
I could hear the host telling story after story about how bad the world was and that it was getting worse. I thought, “What do you mean? The world isn’t bad. I’m having a great time!” I resented the show, and wished Mom would quit watching it.
After that, I would bury my head beneath a pillow as soon as I would hear the dreaded program’s music. However, I could not completely shut it out because my mother was becoming convinced of the things she was hearing. Soon she began to share what she was learning with the rest of the family.
Eventually, because of my love for my mother, I allowed her to show me what the Bible said about certain topics—and I had to admit that those things were there. Even though I was quite young, I could plainly see that these were not her ideas; she was getting them from the Bible.
That brings us back to the story at the picture window and the idea of Jesus Christ’s return. This was a concept I did my best to reject, because I did not want it to be true. However, she was able to show me from the scriptures that it is going to happen (Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7). Seeing this for myself in the Bible, I realized that I had to accept it, no matter how hard it was for me to swallow.
That was a major turning point for me, and my whole perspective changed forever. No longer was I just a kid with nothing more to worry about than the pursuit of fun. I saw that life was much more serious than that. I had accepted the idea that there was more to life than just my world. But although I saw the need for Christ’s return, I still was not thrilled with the prospect that it could happen soon, while I was young.
Fast Forward
I now find myself in my late 30s as I write this. A lot has happened in my life in the meantime. I graduated from high school in 1980 at age 17 and then worked a year before going on to college. During my sophomore year, I was baptized. College graduation came at age 24, and I then started my working life. Five years later I met the woman who became my wife and, at 29, we were married. In so many ways it is hard to believe that so much has happened since that incident at the picture window.
I have purposely run through the milestones in my life to illustrate a point—that time goes by quickly! I know that, to a 12-year-old, reaching 16 seems like an eternity. And to an 18-year-old, getting to 21 takes forever. But ask anyone who is over 30, and four or five years seem like a few days. Before you know it, you are getting older and your life is flying by.
This point also relates to the concept of the timing of Jesus Christ’s return. When I was a teenager, I believed that time would not go on long enough for me to be baptized, and, therefore, the most I could hope for was the second resurrection. I remember thinking that the first resurrection—which the Bible calls a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35; Revelation 20:6)—was my mother’s resurrection. But now it has been 17 years since I was baptized!
Not only that, but I have now been married eight years, attended 26 Feasts of Tabernacles, and went to my 20th-year high school reunion this year. As you can see, I have enjoyed many events that I thought I would never be able to when I was that young person standing at the picture window.
It Could Happen to You
It is important to know that you could find yourself in the same situation. You see, there are a lot of things we know about Jesus Christ’s return, but we do not know when it will be. One of the last statements that Jesus made to His disciples was, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority” (Acts 1:7). This is something that we are not supposed to know, and I believe one of the reasons is so we will continue doing what we should be doing—as individuals and as a church—until that time.
You could find yourself like me; looking back on events that you once thought there would not be enough time to experience. If He does return in five to 15 years, add that amount to whatever your age is now. For someone who is 15, that means as old as 30! That is time enough to enjoy many wonderful events in your life.
Lessons Learned
I would like to share with you three lessons I have learned from my experience:
1) Live your life as though you will live a long life. Because of hearing that Jesus Christ is returning soon, there is the tendency to think “What’s the use in planning for a long life?” I knew a teenager who stopped brushing his teeth because of this outlook. But remember that God’s timing is different from our timing: “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).
Another attitude that many young people adopt is “Well, if I only have a few years anyway, I’m going to do everything I want to do while I can.” This is dangerous thinking, and can lead people to make mistakes that they will live with the rest of their lives (which can be quite long). I have known many people who are now living with the lasting pain of poorly thought-out decisions made impetuously when they were young. These decisions were based on a wrong idea of having “fun.” Remember that real fun does not require repentance.
Rather, plan your life as though you are going to live into old age. Do well in school, set goals and plans to achieve them, decide on a career, keep yourself from worthless pursuits and surround yourself with friends who are positive and are going somewhere. Remember the words of King Solomon who admonished young people to “Rejoice, O young man (or woman), in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity [temporary, like a vapor]” (Ecclesiastes 11:9–10).
2) Do not allow yourself to become cynical. Cynicism is an attitude of being distrustful, doubtful, skeptical and suspicious. Because of recent events in the Church of God, many—young and old—have allowed themselves to fall victim to this destructive way of thinking. Warnings from the church about the return of Jesus Christ have also become a topic at which many tend to scoff. I have heard some say, “Yeah, I’ve been hearing about the ‘soon-coming’ Kingdom of God for 20 years now and we’ve been wrong the whole time! Everything is the same as it’s always been.”
The Bible warns about this attitude being prevalent in the end times: “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation’” (2 Peter 3:3–4). Peter goes on to point out that the same Being who by His word created the earth will also destroy all evil by His word (vv. 5–7).
Instead of being cynical, we should be thankful that we have more time to become the kind of people who are worthy of such a patient God: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (v. 9, NASB). This opportunity is available not only to adults, but also to you as teenagers (1 Corinthians 7:14). By becoming cynical, you effectively tie God’s hands and limit what He can do for you.
3) Look beyond your world. It is easy to be caught up in what you and your friends are doing and in the latest fashions, TV shows and music. It is all so exciting and fun with so many things to see and do. As Solomon wrote, you should enjoy your youth. Your youth is a time like no other in your life.
But look around and see the “flip side” of the world. In your own generation, there is the example of the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, which was just one incident in a series of school shootings in the United States. What about the atrocities committed in Bosnia, Rwanda and other parts of the world? Look around your own neighborhood. Studies show that one in six women in the U.S. are victims of rape or attempted rape—and the majority of these are under the age of 18. How many families can you name that have not suffered through a divorce or abuse of some kind?
Try this—keep a tally on your favorite television programs for a few nights, of the number of times there is a murder, a sexual incident outside of marriage, a reference to homosexuality or foul language. Do the same with the music you listen to. Then analyze how you never noticed them before, and you will see how much you have been conditioned to just accept ideas that are clearly against God’s way of life. No, you do not have to look too far to see that this world is sick and needs Jesus Christ to return.
In contrast, here is a description of the world after Jesus returns: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’” (Revelation 21:1, 3–4).
Imagine a world of no more tears or suffering. That is the world you have the opportunity to help usher in. Be honest—no matter how exciting and fun your life is, there are times when you experience sorrow and despair. These are a part of life. How much of that heartache is caused by you or someone else not living God’s way of life? It need not be that way, and you are one of the privileged few to whom God has revealed His way.
Put It in Perspective
Yes, Jesus Christ will return—it is as sure as any prophecy in the Bible. And He may return in your lifetime. But instead of thinking that this is a bad thing, realize that it is going to be so much better for the billions who have lived empty and directionless lives. Thank God that you have an opportunity, as a young person, that others have never had—to know God and His way of life. And no matter your age, you can support and back up the Work that is getting the message of hope out to those people.
So go ahead and enjoy yourself as a young person. Make plans for a long life and a successful future. Avoid falling into a cynical attitude that comes from not believing God’s Word and His promises. Look beyond your world to see that this present society does need God’s kingdom to make a safe and prosperous world for everyone. Then you can truly look forward to Jesus Christ’s return and pray “Thy kingdom come” with your whole heart.