Let’s be honest: the word soon has a wide range of meanings. When my kids say they’ll clean their rooms “soon,” I know I could probably sit down and watch a show or two first. But when I hear the words, “Dinner will be ready soon,” it usually motivates me to wrap things up a little quicker. What do we do with Jesus’ words, “Surely I am coming soon,” from nearly 2,000 years ago?
John heard these words at the very end of Scripture, and Christians have been repeating them ever since: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” This has been a prayer echoed throughout centuries of persecution, revival, boredom, faithfulness, failures, and successes. And still, Jesus hasn’t returned. So what are we supposed to do with a promise that feels delayed?
When I hear the word “soon,” I’m tempted to echo the words of Inigo Montoya, in The Princess Bride, who says, “I do not think that this word means what you think it means.” I don’t know… Maybe Jesus should have said that he was coming back soonish.
Or maybe we are the ones who misunderstand.
What Jesus is doing here is not giving us a countdown clock. He’s not circling a date on the calendar or telling us to start frantically tidying up the house at the last minute, like unexpected guests are pulling into the driveway. Notice the difference: Jesus doesn’t tell us to get ready. He tells us to be ready.
Those are not the same thing.
“Get ready” implies panic, scrambling, and pretending. It’s the idea that someday, when the timing feels clearer, we’ll finally clean up our act, take faith seriously, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. “Be ready,” on the other hand, is about posture, not performance. It’s a settled way of living. A life already oriented toward trust, obedience, and love.
To be ready means we trust Jesus with our lives today. It means we forgive when it’s hard, love when it’s inconvenient, and remain faithful when the world feels impatient or cynical. Readiness isn’t about predicting His return; it’s about practicing His way. Loving God. Loving people. Walking humbly. Staying awake to what He’s doing all around us, right now.
In that sense, “soon” is always true. Jesus’ return is always closer than it’s ever been. And more importantly, our opportunity to live in His way, with His heart, is always now.
So we pray the ancient prayer with both hope and humor, honesty and trust: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Whether His return is soon, soonish, or far beyond our understanding of time, may He find us ready, not rushed; trusting, not pretending; but faithfully living in His way of love today.
Josh Rose
Family Pastor