Thursday, 3/21/19 – Discipleship: The Soon Return of Christ

A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him in front of the service station. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump.

“Reverend,” said the young man, “sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.”

The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean. It’s the same in my business.”

The Soon Return of Jesus Christ is one of God’s sure promises we discussed yesterday: “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Luke 12:40). The second coming of Christ is as certain in scripture as was His first appearance in this world as an infant some 2,000 years ago. Yet through many centuries worldly-minded souls have neglected to prepare for it.

Whether one lives to see Christ’s second advent or not, one’s own mortality should be abundantly and undeniably clear. “All flesh is like grass,” says scripture (Isa. 40:7,8; 1 Peter 1:24), it withers quickly. “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes,” writes James (James 4:14).

But the soul lives on. Job realized this centuries before Christ’s birth:

I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)

The soul-shaking truth of humanity is this: “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27, KJV).

Yet the very next verse brings hope: “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” (v.28). Note well: this salvation is not to everyone, only “to those who are waiting for Him.” Are you waiting for Him? Do you acknowledge that you have fallen short… that apart from Him you are indeed a sinner… you need a Saviour, a Mediator between yourself and God?

Come to Him today and whether you live to see His promised return to this world or die to meet Him in the next you will be ready for the trip.

Press on…

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