(emphasis mine)
Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is IN YOUR MIDST.”
Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”

At times in my life, I have wondered when the next big opportunity at work or the next big investment payoff would happen. I would work really hard to achieve it, only to find out that it was not as fulfilling or exciting to me as I thought it would be.

Looking back, I now realize I was missing the adventure opportunities presented to me all along the way to my goals. It’s like I put the blinders on and only wanted to see the goals I had set for myself accomplished. But God had mission opportunities coming at me all throughout the journey and I had missed them. 1) Checking in with a co-worker to see how she was feeling while in a busy time at work? No, throughout my career until recently I had missed this one. 2) surprising my wife with a warm greeting and telling her how much I love her and appreciate her after a tough day at work? No, many times in the past I just focused on myself when I got home. 3) Taking the time to memorize scripture with my kids? Many times I am more interested in watching movies.

And I think Jesus is talking to his disciples about something very similar here. It’s like he is saying: “Stop spending so much time and energy worrying about when God’s Kingdom will come. The Kingdom of God is here … his righteous works are all around you, opportunities to join him exist everyday. You just have to decide to draw close to him, clear your schedule, and look for them!”

Many people think we are close to or in the end times. I don’t know if that is true or not. But I do know this: God does not want any to perish but all to receive the saving grace of his Son Jesus by repenting of their sins and making him Lord of their lives.

So I will continue to serve, reach out, and disciple. I will love the unlovable and seek to model Jesus more and more. So when Jesus finds me, he will find me faithful and active in doing his good works!

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus said the Kingdom of God would be like a man who went on a journey and gave his servants gold bags to invest for him. He gave to each according to his ability, to one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag. When he returned, he expected to find that the servants had invested their talents and gained a return. For those who did, he rewarded them, and the one who did not was punished.

God has given his followers spiritual gifts and talents. He expects to find us investing our abilities in serving others and speaking the truth about Jesus. We are to help do God’s kingdom work on this earth. And then we will have nothing to worry about when he returns.

So what is more important — contemplating the day of Jesus’ return or doing the things Jesus would love to see us doing as we live, so when he does return we will please him?

Lord, thank you for this passage, it is one of my favorites about the end times. You are looking for spiritual warriors, not Christian pontificators, sitting on the sidelines trying to figure out the day of your return. May I battle with you today and tomorrow and each day until your glorious return!