God’s precious promises – Day 21
His promise to return
Bible text(s)
The second coming of Christ is a prominent theme throughout the Bible.
Angels heralded the news of the first advent of the Saviour. Angels again testified to the disciples that he would return, as Jesus was ascending into heaven on that first Ascension Day. “They (the disciples) were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’ ” (Acts 1:10-11).
Jesus bore constant testimony that he would return: “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done” (Matthew 16:27).
Should his return fill us with fear or joy?
If we have the assurance of a right relationship with God, we can look forward to the coming of our King in joyful anticipation.
When this will take place none of us know. If anyone claims to know the day and date, they are either a false prophet or mentally ill. Jesus himself stated: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).
We do not know when the Day of the Lord will be, but we do know it will occur when we least expect it (2 Peter 3:10).
The onus is on us to always be prepared and through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, lead lives worthy of his name.
A question everyone should regularly ask themselves is: “If Christ came now, would he find my conduct and lifestyle acceptable?”
