Occupied or Preoccupied?

Today I saw something that took me way back.  My son, Abel, planned for a friend to come by to play at 3pm today.  From 11am on, there was virtually a minute by minute countdown until his friend's arrival.  Twenty minutes to three I saw Abel's face glued to the front windows, scanning the street for his buddy.  What struck me funny was the fact I had waited at that window about 28 years ago for my friends Jeremy and Donovan, two brothers from our church.  They were older than me and were the coolest guys with the greatest toys.

As I watched Abel monitor the street, I considered how preoccupied he had been all day.  He seemed to struggle to find much interest in anything because at 3pm Paul was coming over.  No matter the age, when people are preoccupied they lose focus on other things.  A man preoccupied with his impending divorce finds it hard to concentrate on anything else.  Girls are preoccupied with prom outfits, and guys are preoccupied with the girl.  Jesus has told us to be watchful because His return is soon.  As Christ's followers stared up after Him into the clouds following His ascension, two men in white rebuked them gently.  Acts 1:10-11 reads, "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, [11] who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."  Jesus had physically departed, but He would be returning.  In the meantime, they were to be about His business.

I am reminded of a parable Jesus told His disciples in Luke 19:11-13:  "And as they heard these things, He added and spake a parable, because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. [12] He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. [13] And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." (KJV)  The disciples thought Jesus would set up His kingdom at that present time, before His crucifixion.  Jesus corrected their understanding by explaining He would leave them, put resources under their authority, and later return.  The nobleman would settle accounts with all his servants, and every servant would have to justify his conduct during the master's absence.  In the same way, Jesus ascended to the Father and granted the Holy Spirit without measure to all who are born again by faith in Him.  The Holy Spirit graciously empowers and gifts us.  Instead of milling around with our faces staring up in the heavens preoccupied with Christ's return, we ought to occupy ourselves until He comes.  It is good to lift your hands in worship to God, but better still to use those hands outside the sanctuary for God's service.

Jesus is coming and His reward is with Him.  It is wisdom that asks, how am I occupying myself using the gifts God has given me for the glory of God?  He has given many talents that lie buried in the ground moldering away.  When we are preoccupied with things of this life we will not be occupied with our heavenly calling.  Whom the devil cannot derail he will work to distract.  Let us occupy ourselves with activities that bring glory and honor to God.