The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:4,
Jesus Christ is going to appear again. Paul tells us Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of God, "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:34. Also here in Colossians 3:1, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Jesus Christ is in heaven, where he will remain until the appointed time. Jesus Christ is coming back!
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so 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." Jesus Christ is coming back!
Jesus taught about his second coming to earth, "As lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Matthew 24:27. He went on to say, "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." Matthew 24:30-31. Jesus Christ is coming back!
Paul described the event in a spell-binding manner, "We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. Jesus Christ is coming back!
James asks us to be patient while waiting for the return of Jesus Christ and consider it as something that is near, "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." James 5:7-8. Jesus himself desires us to consider his second coming as something imminent for every generation, "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:12-13. Jesus Chris is coming back!
Here is an event that cannot be stopped. It cannot be delayed and it cannot be detoured. Jesus Christ is coming back, it is a scheduled event of earth-shattering importance and nothing will prevent it. Like a massive freight train barreling down the tracks right at us, nothing can stop it till it reaches its appointed destination at the appointed time. Given this, how might this reality impact your life, your choices today?
Jesus Christ is coming back!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Trevor Fisk
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