Tag: return

Categories
End Times

Where Is the Promise of His Coming?

Never forget the promise…

The Bible is filled with promises—over 8,000 of them. There are promises for healing, blessing, forgiveness, peace, and provision. In different seasons of our lives, we cling to different promises.

But one of these promises is different. It is a promise that changes everything. This promise reminds us we aren’t home. It points us to the day when Jesus returns for his church and takes us to our forever home in heaven:

 “…I go to prepare a place for you to rest. And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am” (John 14:2-3). The promise is sure. He WILL come back. It’s not a maybe or a hopefully—it’s a definitely!

When the time is right, Jesus WILL return for us.

Peter gives us some valuable insights about Jesus’s return in 2 Peter, chapter three.

  • In the last days, many will not believe in the promise of his return. Mockers will question the promise, pointing out that time has been marching on and Jesus hasn’t returned. (See 2 Peter 3:3-4.) Don’t be swayed by those who don’t believe Jesus is coming back. They are acting out of their own evil desires.
  • Jesus will return unexpectedly. Jesus will return like a thief sneaking into a house when the owner isn’t looking for him. He will command the dead in Christ to rise from their graves and the living Christians to join him in the air. He will take us to heaven to be with him for eternity. (See 2 Peter 3:10.)
  • The promise isn’t to scare us, but to comfort us. Regardless of what craziness is happening in the world, we know our future is secure. Though the world may be shaken, the people of God are unshakeable as they await his return. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.)
  • We live in readiness. Every new day could be the day Jesus returns. Do we really believe in the promise of his coming? If not, we are probably living more loosely than we should be. But if we believe, we will be living godly lives, filled with the love of God, and sharing the message of Jesus with those who do not know him. We will be ready. (See 2 Peter 3:14.)

We live each day knowing this could be the day our Lord returns for us. The secret of living well is a deep belief in the return of Jesus. When everyone around us is worried, we’re at peace. When others doubt, we trust. We are faithful and fearless.

We don’t obsess about our past, because it’s been forgiven. We don’t worry about the present, because God is always with us. And we don’t fear the future because our Lord is preparing a home for us. One glorious day, he will return and take all of us home. That is our promise and our hope. Let’s be ready.

Dear Jesus, I am comforted by the promise of your coming. I know you will return for me. Help me to be ready and help me point others to you so they will also be ready when you return. Keep heaven in my heart and let the promise of your return shape the way I live. I ask this in your name, amen.