The Bible Edge
Thank You Lord
John 14:3
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.
Thank you, Lord, for the promise of Christ’s return.
Jesus Himself proclaimed this promise…if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself… Such a promise should be read and reread each and every day. One day, perhaps soon, Jesus Christ will return. The men in white apparel said as much; And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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. Acts 1:10-11
Yet, with all the promises in the New Testament of Christ’s return, many still reject this promise. They are like those in 2 Peter 3:4 …Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. Peter calls those who say this “scoffers.” They are wrong on two accounts. One, all things are not as they were from the beginning of creation. Remember the flood? That changed everything. Two, His promise is found in John 14:3, and other such verses in Scripture.
Yes, let it be shouted from the rooftops, let it be printed with 3-inch headlines, let it be carved in stone, let it be proclaimed from the lips of every believer, Jesus is coming again!
Because of the promise of Christ’s return, Paul recommended this in Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Think about that. The return of Christ, our salvation, is closer now than it ever has been. Can it even be imagined that this generation of believers may be the generation that experiences the return of Christ? What a privilege that would be.
As you think on that, think also on this. Paul stated that there is a crown waiting for them who simply love His appearing. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 Loving his appearance includes looking for it, longing for it, praying for it, and living in light of it.
With all that said, once again… Thank you Lord for the promise of Christ’s return. Just as the second to last verse in the Bible proclaims… Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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