Is Jesus Coming Soon? - Will you live to meet it?
We dread the end-time messages, revelations, and cautions about the second appearance of Christ, and that is completely understandable because they breed panic and unanswerable questions. Some also doubt that the second coming is true. They ask if Jesus is ever coming back and why he has not arrived yet. And their concerns are equally apprehensible.
While growing up, we were told that the world would end soon. As a young girl from a religious home, I started to lose interest in school because, based on my calculations of the years ahead, I was unsure if I would finish high school or attend university before the world ended—according to my estimates. So, why bother starting? Yet, here I am. Having graduated from university, the world ‘still’ has not ended. This leaves many questions and doubts today. Our generation is tired of the “Jesus is coming soon. Repent!” message. We want to know the exact time he will return before we believe— until then, we are content with life.
However, it should not be so. This message aims to shift our focus away from the second coming of Christ, for a moment, to something else. The Bible clearly states that “no one knows the day and hour Christ will return, not even the angels of heaven, but God only”. Jesus tells his disciples this in Matthew 24:36, where he reveals to them the signs of the times, paralleling His return with the flood during the time of Noah. In light of that, it would be a mistake on our part to disregard His return simply because we have waited too long. After all, Peter informs us that “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise… but is long-suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
It would interest you to know that since Christ left, the disciples likewise awaited his return. While they watched as Christ ascended, they were told that, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Thus, they looked forward to His coming and preached the message with all urgency. Yet Christ did not come in their lifetime – not one of them witnessed His return, as He is yet to. We are not the only ones waiting; they waited even more, and this should teach us that, while we await the coming of Jesus (Maranatha!), the “rapture”, and the fulfilment of the end-time prophecies, we must most importantly prepare for what may precede Jesus’ return, which is death.
The apostles thought they would witness Christ’s return, but one after the other, they died and are long gone with the generations who took over directly from them. Christ’s return did not meet them, but death did. However, what is of crucial importance is their service and dedication to God’s word and ministry. That is what gives them hope for His coming – even in death. Scriptures emphasised countlessly that man’s life is short and fleeting (Psalms 144:4; 103:14-15). Thus, it is prudent that we shift our gaze to when our races would end, other than the day the universe shall cease to be. The signs and prophecies of the last days are quickly coming to pass; the wars and rumours of wars, technological advancements, the love of money, and many others, as mentioned in the Bible, are all manifesting today (Mathew 24:3-14; Dan 12:4; 2 Tim 3:1-5). And what we should notice also is the rapid rate of death, so many lives are lost every day. It is not our prayer to die prematurely, but the question is ‘what if’? Or what if you live till old age and Christ still does not return, but death comes knocking?
What about the people who left unexpectedly? Were they prepared? Couldn’t they have desired to live till Jesus appears in the sky? Yet, that decision is not ours to make. Whether the world ends in 10 years or more, or God reveals the day and hour, that should not be our concern. What should be is, “Will I live to meet the day?” or “If I don’t, will I resurrect when he finally comes?” Because the Bible tells us that when Christ comes, the dead saints shall rise first to meet Him (1 Thess. 4:16-17). That’s where our hope and joy should be. We should strive to be among the saints, whether alive or dead on that day.
This, thus, is a call to prepare – prepare for the appearance of Christ and the end of the world by living righteously – now! Prepare for the inevitable death even more as you await the second appearance of Christ. They both shall come unannounced! So dear beloved, do not question if truly Christ shall return and when. Invite the Holy Spirit to coach you as you journey on this personal pilgrimage of living a glorious life in Jesus and “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12), as David asked of the Lord – “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). From living a purposeful and heavenly-inspired life, we can end our race with Paul’s famous saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day…”
May God keep us, and grace us to be prepared always for eternity in Jesus’ name.
Amen!