Smudged Windows

She leafed through the old picture album

As she looked at the pictures, 90 year old Jesse Clark shared memories from 65 years in ministry with her husband Earl.  One thing she shared I will never forget.  It was something she said about being in Bible College during the 1930’s:

Earl and I, and the rest of the students, were sure we wouldn’t graduate from Bible College before the Rapture.

Like many other Christians during that time, world events loomed causing them to be certain the Lord could return any moment.  And this created an urgency to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  After all, if Jesus was coming any moment, and many people still hadn’t heard about Him, somebody better tell them.

This world is not their home

Today many of us have little understanding or interest in end-time events. We’re not too concerned with the fact that Jesus could return any moment because we’re caught up with the good things of this life.

But there are still many Christians in the world, for whom life is not comfortable. Although their walks are vital and deep, they face suffering and persecutions. As a result they have a more intense longing for His return.

Looking forward to His appearing

Former Moody Bible Institute President, Joseph Stowell, shared a story of a friend of his named Bud Wood, who founded The Shepherds Home in Wisconsin for boys and girls with developmental disabilities.

The original ministry opened its doors in 1964 to 36 children, providing them a loving residential environment and a school.  Most importantly, the primary goal was sharing God’s love and encouraging them toward a personal and growing walk with Jesus..

Joe Stowell would regularly call Bud to pray with him and encourage him.  One time, Bud asked, “Hey, Joe, do you know what our biggest maintenance problem at Shepherds is?”  “I have no idea,” Joe replied.

“Smudged windows”

“Say what?” Joe asked surprisingly.

Bud went on to explain.  “Last month we taught them that Jesus was coming back to earth for His people and how we will meet him in the air.  Ever since then our kids press their hands and faces against the windows because they’re looking into the sky to see if today might be the day that Jesus will return for them and take them to His home.”

In the meantime

One of the marks of a follower of Jesus is a longing to see Him.  But this is not a one-sided desire.  As much as any of us had ever wanted to see Jesus, He has all the more ached to see us.  In fact He has prepared a place so that he can not only see us, but also be with us forever.

In the meantime, there are smudged windows at a school in Wisconsin, and there are smudged windows in heaven.