Summer

 Summer is almost officially here.  I am not talking about the actual start of the summer season on June 21.  I am not talking about the first warm day of the year.  I am talking about the absence of school for all of the kids!  I remember that when I was in their shoes, the beginning of summer was always marked by the end of the school work.  Summer really started when the school work was done.  

I think that in many respects, this is a good way to think about the return of Christ.  When Jesus comes back, the work that He has left us here to do for His glory is over and we get to enter the rest and eternal joy of being in His presence for all eternity.  I wonder if we think of His return like that.  Do we anticipate it like we looked forward to end of school?  Do we relish the thoughts of the endless possibilities of joy as we serve our Savior for all eternity?  Do we anticipate and hold fast the reality that we will spend an eternity worshiping God and living in His presence?  Perhaps we ought to think about the return of Christ a bit more like summer!