The Bible Edge
Everyone needs an Edge, Believers can have the Bible Edge
Acts 1:11
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
What a promise! That …this same Jesus… The one who walked on water, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, calmed the sea, cleansed the lepers, even raised Lazarus and some others back from the dead…this same Jesus… that did all that will return to earth. It could be today, tomorrow, next year, or one hundred years from now, but mark it down, put it in three-inch headlines, count on it, …this same Jesus… will return to earth. It is a promise given by the angels but authorized by God.
Jesus testified of this promise when He said: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3 Again, what a promise! Not only will He return, He will return and then take us back with Him. Where He is we will be (the we being His believers, His children, His saints, etc.). Wow! That is so amazing I’ll say it backwards, Wow!
Jesus testified of this promise again in Revelation 22:12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Not only is He returning to earth to take us back with Him, He is bringing rewards to give to every person according to their work. Awesome!
There is no debate about this promise, the promise of the Lord’s return. As the old song says, “Coming again, Coming again, May be morning, may be noon, may be evening, and may be soon!” But there is one question about this great event. One that every person should consider, one that each human must face, one that determines the difference between looking forward to His return with joy, or fear. A question that too few even consider, ever, not once in their life, but one that is as universal as oxygen. That question is found in Luke 18:8 …Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Will He? When …this same Jesus… returns to earth will He find faith? Frankly, no one can do anything about the whole earth. We cannot know about all others on earth, but we can know about ourselves. Consider, “When Jesus returns to earth will He find me living by faith?”
An edge, a Bible edge to obtaining one of those good rewards that our Savior will bring with Him: live by faith everyday as if today is the day that He returns.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.