. . . On the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)
We now know that in the first three years of a newborn’s life, their brain is developing at warp speed. Their brain makes over a million neural connections each ____________ (month, week, day).
Which one do you think it is?
Actually, it’s none of these. A baby’s brain makes over a million neural connections every second in its first three years of life! While they’re gooing at us and using their happy baby language—their brains are in overdrive.
Paul tells the disciples at Thessalonica that when Jesus returns, He will be glorified in His holy people and “marveled at.” Well, of course He will be—how could this not be the case?
This recently discovered truth about babies helps me get a handle on what Paul says about us marveling at Jesus when He returns. In some ways, we’ll be like babies—bright-eyed, smiling, with our hearts, minds, and spirits making over a million connections a second to our now visible Lord. Maybe everything in our life will now make sense and fit together in a way we wondered about but will then clearly see clearly. Maybe we will see all the ways Christ was working in our lives and the lives of others around us. I know we’ll see loved ones who have gone on before us (1 Thessalonians 5:14). It (almost) goes without saying that this will be something more glorious than anything any of us have ever experienced.
I love living on earth for Jesus and being part of His glorious kingdom. As do you, I take seriously our commission to bring the reign of heaven to earth each day by the way we live and treat others. This is our mission and it’s right that we think and feel that way.
Nonetheless, it’s also true that it’s all leading somewhere—and that is to the return of Jesus. No one knows when, we just know it will happen. And it’s healthy to keep that in mind and understanding that this is the fruition of everything that’s happened since Eden. This is where God is leading us.
It’s hard not to get excited about that!
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 