Why Hasn't Jesus Christ Returned Yet?

I am sure many of God's professed people are wondering why Christ Jesus hasn't returned yet. This world has been in turmoil for some time now, and it is just getting worse and worse. What is God waiting for? What is He waiting for His people to do?

There are many different types of Christians in the world today. But unfortunately, not enough who do the express will of God. There are those who focus on the 'grace' of Christ Jesus, thinking that they can continue to live a life of worldliness and sin, and forget about keeping the law of God. There are those who focus on the law of God, so much so that they forget about the grace of Christ and think that their works will save them. Then there are those who truly accept the grace of Christ, AND strive to keep the ten commandments not to be saved, but because they love God. This is commendable, BUT this has become the only focus of many of God's people today. They have become very insular and only focus on themselves, and there is something very important which God requires that they are NOT doing.

So what is God waiting for in His people to do? Why hasn't Jesus returned yet? I believe the answer lies in Isaiah 58 Chapter.

Isaiah 58:1 ...'Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.'

So God is telling us that we are to warn the church of it's sins. 

Isaiah 58:2-3 ...'Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.'

Now from the above verses we can see a diligent people who seek God and keep his commands. A people who "seek God daily" and "delight to know His ways". A people who "did righteousness" and "approaches God" in prayer and supplication. A people who "fast" regularly. Then why is it that God doesn't bless them? The verse confirms that God does not "see" their efforts. Why is this? We find the answer in the next few verses.

Isaiah 58:5-7 ...'Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?'

The reason God doesn't bless them is because even though they have remembered the first commandment to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. They have forgotten the second greatest commandment, which is to love thy neighbor as thyself. These professed people of God are so focused on themselves, they have forgotten to do good to others. They neglect one of the basic teachings of Christ Jesus, which is to love your neighbor as yourself, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. They have become insular and are only focusing on their own relationship with God.

What is God Waiting For?

When we think of sin, we think about the ten commandments. So when God tells us to warn the people about their sin, we tend to think He is just talking about observing the ten commandments. But sin is much more wider and broader than what the ten commandments say. Think about it. If Jesus says we are to go and feed the hungry and clothe the naked, and we DON'T do those things. Is that not sin? (James 4:17)

17	Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

If Jesus tells us to go and teach all nations the gospel, and we DON'T do it. Is that not sin? Yes it is. Now look at what God says will happen if we do these things.

Isaiah 58:8,10 ...'Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward ...10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day.'

12 ...'and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.'

If we do theses, THEN the Spirit of the Lord shall fall upon us, and we will be able to light up the world with the three angels message, and THEN the glory of God will shine in His people and THEN the true character of Christ will be shown in His people, and THEN the second coming can be hastened and the last days of earth's history can reach their climax.

The problem with us sabbath keepers is that we look at chapters like Isaiah 58 and we ONLY see the verses to do with the sabbath. Yes, the sabbath is mentioned in Isaiah 58, and the sabbath day IS an important issue. Just like keeping the ten commandments is an important issue. Just like transforming our characters into Christ-like characters is very important. But we must not forget the other vital Christian principles, which is to take the "everlasting gospel" to the world, and to SHOW the gospel to the world by doing good to others, whether friend or foe.

As a professed people of God, if we just stay insular, only focusing on ourselves, and keeping the truth to ourselves, then God CANNOT use us and WILL NOT use us. In order to bring on the last days and the second coming of Christ Jesus, we have to be LIVING the everlasting gospel ourselves. Yes, keep the ten commandments. Yes, keep the seventh day sabbath as per the 4th commandment. Yes, make every effort to have your character transformed to be like Christ. But we MUST also share and show the gospel truth with others who do not know the truth. We MUST warn the world of it's sin. We MUST take the three angels messages to the world. And we MUST do good towards others, helping those in need, showing forgiveness and love.

In conclusion:

What did Jesus do during His life on earth? He obeyed God and did His express will. He warned people of their sin. He preached the gospel message. He healed the sick and helped those in need. This is the TRUE character of Christ that we are to replicate. THIS is what God is waiting for. THIS is what the world needs to see! Let us as God's professed people start doing the will of God and then we will soon see the return of our Lord and Saviour!