“The Next Spiritual Journey” Day 6: Be unapologetic about emphasizing the Lord’s return.

“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was raised by a father who always stressed the coming of Jesus Christ in his many years of ministry. Of course, he—as any good pastor would—covered many aspects of the Christian walk. However, no matter what his topic, he often found a way to reference that Jesus was coming back soon and that we needed to be ready and watching for Him.

Having been exposed all my life, to a man of God who spoke often about the Lord‘s coming, I was surprised when I began to see churches, sharing similar beliefs to those with which I grew up, drifting away from an emphasis on Jesus’ soon coming.

Now, among the many ill-informed and self-serving reasons they used for neglecting the teaching of the need to be expecting the Lord‘s return, was that it would somehow cause people to have no initiative toward being supportive of the church. They are seemingly unaware that they are fulfilling a prophecy about the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ.

“knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.””

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The truth is, a thorough examination of the teaching of the disciples throughout the New Testament, will reveal many references to the Lord’s return.

Indeed, Jesus, promised that He would come back.

““Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Additionally, Jesus stressed the need to be watching for His return.

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭ 37-‭39‬, ‭42‬, ‭44‬ NLT‬‬

The disciples, staring into heaven as Jesus ascended into heaven, were reminded by angels that Jesus would return the same way He left.

““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!””

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul spoke often of the Lord‘s return, referencing our looking for Him as being our “blessed hope.”

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Peter said we should be looking for and hastening the day of the Lord’s return.

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In our opening scripture, we see the writer of Hebrews saying that the Lord will come again for those who are looking for Him.

The scriptures we have offered here, are only a few of the myriad references throughout the whole Bible about the fact that Jesus will come again and then rule and reign over the Earth forever.

Several years ago now, the Lord spoke to me saying that I was not excited about His coming. Honestly, it wasn’t until He said that, that I realized it was the case. Shortly after that, the Lord gave me a sleeping vision where I was being angrily confronted by people who were very close to me. As they were coming toward me, I started saying, “Jesus is coming. Get ready for Him!” At that point, I was lifted up off the ground and actually floated through the group, floating out of sight. Then, just before we started Ararat Church, I heard the Lord‘s voice clearly speaking in my ear, saying, “I AM coming soon!”

Child of God, for those who want to go on to know the Lord, for those who want to take hold of everything He has prepared for us, there is no greater imperative than that of looking for His soon coming, while encouraging everyone we can, to be looking for Him, and to be ready for Him.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!