It’s official. In case you missed it, the Cubs have made the playoffs and secured a reasonable chance to go to the World Series.
Thus begins the talk of curses, and how the Cubs haven’t been in the World Series since before the sinking of the Titanic. There will be talk of how Yankees fans have gorged themselves on 26 titles while the Cubs fan hasn’t even gotten a crumb for the last 100 years.
I happened to see a vignette on ESPN the other day which really moved me. The video clip reminded me of my grandma, who was a devoted Cubs fan her whole life. She died, never having seen her beloved Cubs achieve ultimate victory, yet she could easily have spoken the words of this video herself.
Referring to the World Series, the fans in the video said, “We still believe it’s gonna happen. Maybe this year, maybe next year, maybe in 50 years. Whenever. We’ll wait. We’ll wait for our parents, their parents, and anyone else who has ever cheered for the Cubs. And when our time here runs out, our kids will wait for us.”
It is a near statistical certitude that, given enough time, the Cubs will eventually win. These fans understand this, and they are willing to wait until their hope is made sure.
Cubs fans have waited so long for their hopes to be realized. And yet, there are some who have waited much longer. Almost 2,000 years, to be exact.
When Jesus ascended, many of the early believers expected he would return shortly, within their lifetime. It didn’t happen. Each succeeding generation of believers has hoped and prayed that they would see it in their day.
In my lifetime alone I have witnessed many events which led people to proclaim that Jesus’ return was imminent. The Gulf War, the formation of the European Union, Y2K, and 9/11, to name a few.
Even though none of these events were “our year”, the ultimate victory of our King is still certainly coming. Our belief is not based on the mere statistical certitude that one day, it has to happen, if we just wait long enough. Our hope rests on God’s promises.
There will be some who grow tired of waiting. However, let us not be like the foolish virgins in Matthew 25, who found themselves unprepared when the bridegroom finally arrived.
He will come. We still believe it’s gonna happen. Maybe this year, maybe next year, maybe in 50 years. Whenever. We’ll wait. We’ll wait for our parents, for their parents, and for anyone else who has believed on the Lord Jesus. And when our time on earth runs out, our kids will wait for us.
Molly, What a beautiful post. I am sooo ready for Him to return. I *do* desire that more should come to faith, but I grow weary of the flesh and contending with it. I grow weary of sin in my life and long for the day that it will be absent and I will be in His Presence face to face.