Are we there yet?

In my early morning prayer time, the phrase, "Are we there yet?" popped into my thoughts. So I began to listen to that still small voice reminding me that the journey is not complete and that my final destination is still before me. How I long to get there. And so, like a child, I find myself asking the Father, "Are we there yet?"

In our family devotions, we have been reading from the Gospel of Mark. So a little later this morning it just so happened (nothing just happens with God) that this was our passage:

Mark 13:21-37 (from THE MESSAGE)
No One Knows the Day or Hour
"If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. So watch out. I've given you fair warning. "Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. "And then they'll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky — no one will miss it! He'll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. "Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too — these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don't know the timetable. It's like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. You don't want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I'm saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch."

We began discussing the fact that we don't hear as much preaching in the church about the Second Coming of Christ as we did back in the late 60's and early 70's. There is not as much focus on Christ's return. In fact, a teenager recently said to me, "I hope He doesn't come too soon because I want to experience life, get married and have children." I wonder how many other believers have similar thoughts as this young friend? What would happen in our Christian walk if we were seriously looking forward to God's Son returning for His people? Would our lifestyle be different? Would our priorities change? Would we live differently?

"Are we there yet?' No, we're not. But that doesn't mean we should stop looking, expecting, and preparing for our future destination.