Hebrews 9.27,28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
One of the assurances of our new birth in Christ is that we are eagerly looking for the coming of Jesus Christ. We read that to them that look for Jesus, He will appear the second time without sin unto salvation. That poses a question for both writer and reader alike. The question is not do you believe in the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ. But are you eagerly anticipating His coming such a way that it impacts the way that you live today?
Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Once again, we see the anticipation of His return. In describing the grace of God that brings salvation, we read in Titus 2 that a vital part of what saving grace teaches us is that we are to be looking for “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” To those who were experiencing intense persecution, Paul, who himself was nearing the time of his martyrdom, wrote “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.” Hope is laid out for those who love His appearing.
So are you really living for Christ and waiting for His appearing today with the kind of zeal that you have when you are anticipating a special event on earth like your wedding day, or the day of your graduation, or the day you receive the trophy for being on the winning team? Let me leave you with the words of a the Master Himself.
Luke 12. 34 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 35 Let your loins be girded about, and [your] lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed [are] those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find [them] so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Are you waiting today, or wallowing?
