Jacks

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
- 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

The game of jacks is a bit of a rescue mission. In one variation of the game, you bounce the ball and during its hang time you attempt to grab as many of the jacks off the playing surface as possible before the ball bounces again and you have to catch it. In many ways this parallels one of the significant roles of the church (and by that I mean people who follow Jesus!).
Jesus descended to earth, endured the cross on our behalf, was resurrected and then ascended to heaven. He also left us the promise that he would return one day at which point He will establish His Kingdom in its fullness. As scripture tells us, though it has been about two thousand years, Jesus is not slow in keeping His promise, nor has he forgotten, but rather He waits patiently for all those who will come to repentance. We then live in this interim period, and Jesus has chosen His church to be His representative. We are the primary means by which Jesus intends to share the gospel with the world enacting His rescue mission and ensuring that many more might have the opportunity to respond to His gift of grace and enjoy eternity with Him in His Kingdom.