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Three-two-one: “Happy New Year!”
People everywhere were jumping, hugging, kissing and blowing noise-makers. There was standing room only and though the night was chilly, no one noticed due to the heat generated by the multitude of teenagers in attendance. It was New Year’s Eve, 1998, and I was chaperoning my niece’s church group at a local amusement park.
In the midst of the celebration, I declared to my niece: “You graduate next year!”
That got her and other high school juniors in the group doubly excited; re-igniting enthusiastic squeals and jumping embraces.
That next year would also be the year 2000.
During 1999, computer analysts were expressing concerns about how the switch over to the new millennia could result in a major computer meltdown, and were making attempts to correct the potential disaster from happening. The event was dubbed “Y2K” and it became over-exposed via the media, that made it sound like the end of the world would happen on January 1st. People soon tired of hearing about it, and no longer believed that a problem could occur. Parodies abounded and the topic was fodder for comedians.
I wonder, like the overkill of pending computer glitch disasters, has patiently waiting for the coming of the Lord become commonplace? I grew up in the church hearing that someday soon, Jesus was coming back. It’s now 50 plus year later and I’m still waiting for His return. I look forward to it, but rarely dwell on the possibility of it happening on this particular day. I believe that it will happen, unlike the potential crisis of Y2K.
The year 2000 came in without a hitch, and little was reported about computer problems. Whether the proactive measures worked, or that there was really no problem to begin with, I do not know.
What I do know is that I should always keep in mind the fact that Jesus can come at any moment. I need to be ready at all times, like the story of the ten virgins going to meet their bridegroom in Matthew 25. Half of the women came with back up oil, just in case the wait was longer than the lamp oil in use. The other half ran out of oil and had to leave the area to purchase additional fuel. Of course, that was when their bridegroom returned and they missed out.
Perhaps the fears and speculations of the computer problem were excessive, and though the world was bored with the information, people were trying to find solutions for the pending malfunction. They were ready for January 1st to arrive. Christians, too, must be ready at any time for Christ’s return. We cannot hear this warning often enough. I want to be able to jump up and down and squeal that Jesus is coming now and that I am graduating!
Dear Lord, may my lamp shine brightly till the day You return for me. Amen.
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