Imminent. The word means showing signs of immediate occurrence, impending, threatening or looming just ahead. As a nurse, I have had to witness and inform many families that the person that they loved was nearing the end of their journey on earth. The signs were clear to my trained eye that death was imminent. The word brought sorrow and a sense of closure as they prepared themselves to say farewell.
We can look at the world around us and feel as if despair and destruction are imminent. The signs are there. News media outlets bark terror and human suffering at one another, each trying to get their opinion heard and shore up their ratings. People on social media are camped out on either side of the spectrum at this moment, from hiding in fear to angry rants about being mindless sheep. There are heartrending tidings of disease racing around the globe, earthquakes, weather disturbances, folks out of work, and store shelves empty (though I am not sure where all the toilet paper went.) It all seems a little overwhelming.
However, when I open the pages of scripture, I find that there have been other times when it seemed like hope was gone–until the Lord stepped close. A man named Lazarus lay in a four day old grave, body decomposing and family weeping, but things shifted when Jesus’ feet turned down the dusty road toward their home. Nothing seemed to have changed but there were signs of impending resurrection. Lazarus left his graveclothes behind that day. (John 11)
Jairus’ little girl lay cold, still, and breathless on her bed that day. Though her desperate daddy had run to ask Jesus for help, the moment had passed because their journey was delayed. Mom was surrounded by weeping mourners and it seemed like the funeral was unavoidable, but things shifted when Jesus continued walking her direction. There were signs of imminent resurrection as Jesus’ feet crossed their threshold. This little girl was laughing and playing before the sun set. (Mark 5)
The widow was walking through the city gates with eyes swollen from crying hot tears. Her only son was lying on the funeral bier that was being carried out of Nain by four strong men. She was broken and desolate with no expectation of her own life continuing. As Jesus saw her bent form and stopped the procession, there were signs of imminent resurrection. The mother left rejoicing as she walked home arms linked with her boy. (Luke 7)
I understand the darkness that I see around me. Jesus Himself spoke of times coming when there would be wars and rumors of wars, nations and kingdoms rising against one another, persecutions, earthquakes, calamities, and famine. It kind of sounds like He was reading the same newspapers that I have seen lately. But He also made a promise that as we see these things happening, we should start looking up. He would be drawing near, at the very door. (Mk 13:29) I realize that things look dim around us right now, but I sense deep inside my spirit that something has shifted.
Child of God, Jesus is coming near—and when He comes near, so does the kingdom. I sense an imminent resurrection.
