Coming Soon

This train I’m on, seems to be approaching its final stop – I suppose that means I ought to prepare to alight. The sun stands over the western range, making haste to its cycle, and in no time at all, the blankets of bright orange hue covering the mountainous maples have fled the scene, leaving a trace of greyness. The trees look so bereft of their gaiety, lifeless and weak. The annual calendar shows its cooperation with their fleeting departure, its body left as but a timid sheet of paper, though confident in having done its share of work.

The birth of baby Jesus is proclaimed in the churches and in the streets, so much so, that the nature of Jesus’ coming has dissolved over time. We ought to declare the second coming of Jesus; it troubles me to not know how long we will instead settle with the happenings of some two-thousand years before. It could most certainly occur tonight! When the evening sun sets, Jesus may stand before us, and we may be taken up from the world. Will we be awake, or will we remain asleep? Though the Lord works, He has placed great responsibilities amongst us, and we must now reap our share. Are we not the greatest concern?

The passions of my youth have long dissipated and the feeble strength of my old age is failing. I am patiently waiting to dispose of this decaying flesh, the day where I will surrender every remaining thing left in me. While many are overjoyed by having already reserved trips to their hometown, here I am with a ticket to my heavenly home. My only concern is that I may leave without having fully fulfilled my responsibilities on this earth.

It is at this time, that my body feels weakest, and I feel the tempting urge to live comfortably, perhaps even lazily. It is as if this is my final fight. But I must go on writing. I must go on proclaiming the truth and I must pour out the manifestations of healing and the holy signs of Jesus Christ. That is, when I leave this world, my body must be dirt alone.

Though after having been elected by the Lord I have solely lived for His kingdom and His will, I feel a sense of disappointment in knowing that I have not been able to fulfill the hopes of my human self. However, I will not remorse. I was born into this world under the blessing of Jesus’s will and thus, for as long as I am alive, I will live for His works, and be content in them alone.

It was a long and toilsome ride. Many along the tracks hated even the breath in me, and many of whom I had hoped to befriend never became so. Indeed, it was not a peaceful journey. I wonder why I had wholeheartedly sought the love of people in this world? Could it be my lack of faith? After having met Jesus in my youth, I have endlessly held onto the hand of the Lord. To this day, and forever onwards, I will hold tight to His hand with all my might and walk into victory on the last day. There will be no gain for the life of this flesh, but I give thanks, for there is all to gain in the spirit that I have lived thus far.

Pastor Ki-Dong Kim
Lord’s Day Worship Column

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Outline and Summary translated by Sarah Lee
Letter translated by Jeremy Kim
Interpretations by Sarah Lee

Chief Editor: Helen Nam
Korean Summary by Ki-Taek Lee