By Staff
There was a time when the dogma of the imminent return of Jesus Christ was prominent. It is a staple of the Christian faith. But in these days, the second coming of Christ has receded to the background.
For the first century Christian, most of whom were under intense persecution, it was the only deliverance they could look forward to other than death. The New Testament epistle of James was written to Christian Jews who were scattered because of the assault on their faith. James tells them in chapter 5, verse 7, to "be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord." James continues on in verse 8: "Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
The Christian life lived biblically is other; that is, it is not of this world. It is counter- cultural; values are upside down. Where humility and faith are foundational for the Christian, self-assertion and harsh reality are the coin of the world. The Apostle Paul declared in 2 Timothy, chapter 3, verse 12, that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
Persecution in our day has many forms. Sometimes it is being mocked for having a narrow view. Other times the godly Christian suffers loss because they do not enter into the rat race to "get all they can, and can all they get." Obedience to God brings blessing, but most of the time, the full blessing will not be realized in this life.
Belief in the second coming of Christ is contingent on what you believe about the first coming of Christ. The world does not deny that Christ lived and died, but they do deny His deity. Jesus Christ is God. He lived, He died, He rose from the dead, He ascended back to heaven, and He is coming again!
Christians must live their lives in such a way that it is evident they are looking for the soon return of Jesus. There are no dates set. There is no set of circumstances that must be aligned before He comes. First century Christians lived as much in the hope of Christ's return as we do or should.
The apostle Paul called it "the blessed hope" in Titus, chapter 2, verse 13. Paul exhorted us in Titus, chapter 2, verse 12, to deny ungodly and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this age.
Confidence in the soon return of Jesus Christ gives hope in the face of difficult circumstances.
Jesus spoke of His return in Matthew, chapter 24. He said in verse 36 the "day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Jesus continued in verse 42: "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."
The Apostle Peter chimes in on the second coming of Jesus Christ in 2 Peter, chapter 3, verses 10-12. In verse 10, he says "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." Peter continued by telling us that everything we see will be "burned up." Then he asks this pertinent question in verse 11: "Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?"
We all live in this pressure cooker called life. Those without Christ scurry about knowing their days are numbered – living for the temporary, disregarding eternity.
But what about the followers of Christ? Do we turn from the scurrying and seek to bring order and calm to chaos, by keeping eternal values in view, realizing every person has a soul that will live forever either in heaven or hell?
Some saints who have gone before us gave great testimony when they died as martyrs with serenity and certainty.
We may not face a stake to be burned on, but we can give daily testimony that we are living not for what this world offers, but for what the Living God of heaven has promised us when He returns.
Jesus Christ is coming again. In the gospel of Luke, chapter 21, Jesus said in verse 28, that when things look really bad on earth, "look up . . . your redemption draws near."