That’s right, He is. Now most everyone who will take the time to read this short article believes that the Lord Jesus Christ will indeed return to this earth. And that is good and most commendable. This truth has been a great source of comfort and encouragement ever since Jesus ascended back into heaven in Acts 1. Recall the following words from the Apostles about the importance of this truth.
“INSTRUCTING US TO DENY UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY DESIRES AND TO LIVE SENSIBLE, RIGHTEOUSLY AND GODLY IN THE PRESENT AGE, LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE AND APPEARING OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS.” (Titus 2:12-13)
It is His coming that assists us in living in a way that pleases the Lord. His coming really has been and is the blessed hope of His people.
“BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND IT HAS NOT APPEARED AS YET WHAT SHALL BE. WE KNOW THAT WHEN HE APPEARS WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, BECAUSE WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS.” (1 John 3:2).
At His coming, we shall be given our glorified, resurrection bodies and the final aspect of our salvation (glorification) will finally be experienced.
“BEHOLD, I AM COMING QUICKLY (suddenly)…” (Revelation 22:12)
These very last words of Jesus recorded in the Bible underscore the certainty of His return. But the key word is “quickly”. Since these words of Jesus (written down by the Apostle John) were given around 95 A.D., some 1930 years have gone by. That seems to defy the meaning of our word “quickly.” However, it is better to translate the word by “suddenly”, indicating (not the timing of His return) but the manner of it; namely, His come will come suddenly. And that suggests a danger we face.
THE DANGER BELIEVERS FACE. It is easy for us to become so familiar with the truth of Jesus’ return that we cease really looking for Him. It can become just part of our Christian conversation without it impacting our hearts or the way we live our lives. This is a harsh reality that each of us has to deal with. It is so easy to lose our anticipation of His return. It is not that we cease believing this doctrinally, but rather that we cease living it practically. Jesus warned about this phenomenon on a number of occasions. He knew that familiarity could breed dullness. He wanted His people to always be attentive and expecting His coming.
“BLESSED ARE THOSE SLAVES WHOM THE MASTER SHALL FIND ON THE ALERT WHEN HE COMES…WHETHER HE COMES IN THE SECOND WATCH OR EVEN THE THIRD, AND FINDS THEM SO, BLESSED ARE THOSE SLAVES…YOU TOO BE READY; FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN HOUR THAT YOU DO NOT EXPECT.” (Luke 12:37-40)
“BE ON THE ALERT FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHICH DAY YOUR LORD IS COMING…YOU BE READY TOO FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN HOUR WHEN YOU DO NOT THINK HE WILL.” (Matthew 24:42-44)
In both of these scriptures, Jesus says that believers should be “alert” (gregoreo), which means to be awake and watchful. We are to be consciously, continuously looking for Jesus to come back. In yet another place, Jesus observed that sin in our lives and the worries that can accompany living in a fallen world takes the focus off of the Lord’s coming again (Luke 21:34). He also said that His followers needed to “be ready” (hetoimos) which means to be prepared for His return. It is something that we need to do. We need to act and take precautions as we anticipate the return of the Lord Jesus.
WHAT TO DO? We all face the onslaught of distractions, busyness, and the stresses of living in this world, which lies in the grip of the Evil One (1 John 5:19). Jesus reminded us that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pursuit of pleasure have a real negative impact on life (Luke 8:14). We all have to deal with these realities.
We need to put into place those things which assist us in keeping the Lord’s return on the front burner of our thinking. We have a plaque on the wall in our home that simply says, “Perhaps Today.” I see that and it does remind me of this valuable truth. But it is the reading and meditation on God’s Word that is essential to our being prepared. According to some polls, statistically most believers do not spend much (if any) personal time in the study and meditation of the Scriptures and this is true of those who regularly attend Sunday services. We will not be able to be “alert” when this is the case. We simply cannot have our thinking correct when we are absent from solid, regular study of the Word of God.
We all have to deal with the busyness, distractions and problems of this life. But Jesus did warn us to “be ready” and “be alert” because He will return at a time when most are not prepared. The Apostle John issued a chilling statement about the Lord’s return in 1 John 2:28-3:3. He stated that there will be two basic responses of believers when Jesus appears at His return. A believer will either rejoice greatly or “shrink away in shame” at His coming. I know which group we all want to be in.