“Let us perfect holiness in the fear of God” [2 Corinthians 7:1], which heralds Jesus coming in the clouds.
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to the world and died for mankind for our salvation. He was shamed, beaten, scourged, defaced, and crucified on the cross as a substitute sacrifice for human sins.
“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before it.” [Isaiah 53:7, ESV]
He was placed in the tomb, buried, and resurrected to life on the third day as he had promised. He ascended into Heaven on the fortieth day and promised he will come back again to take his bride (the church of Jesus Christ) with him.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” [2 Corinthians 5:21]. Jesus is coming back,
He is surely coming back; that’s why Jesus said and instructed his Disciples before he left that: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28:18-20, ESV]
Christ did not say go into all nations and preach materialism. The message was simple: “…But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [Matthew 6:33, ESV].
That is the promise. And these “other things” include your needs, healing and the rest. Your Salvation comes first; that’s why you have to seek him first through repentance.
Today, we have so many souls in the church who are so relaxed about the Second Coming of Christ. We’re so consumed with worldly material things and have become idolaters of worldly material worship. Sending the message to all nations is not anywhere on their priority list or platter. They have misplaced priorities and are losing “first love” (Revelation 2:4).
Some of us are secularly and culturally distracted by shifting our attention toward politics, wealth, status, entertainment, ambiguous programs of the world, rather than building our spiritual maturity
We claim that Jesus is in us, but it’s rather on our calendar for only Sundays. And after Sunday, we move on with our other items on the Calendar, and when something else happens on Sunday, we cross it out until the following Sunday.
“If God, and your relationship to Him, is not the clear high priority of your life, you are going off the target.” To live in Christ, we don’t have priorities – our priority is only one, and the Lord has set that for us. If we fail to honour this priority, we fail Christ; we will miss the flight.
So, the question is: knowing what Jesus told his disciples or ambassadors before returning to the Father, which includes you and me, why should Jesus not be on our calendars as “number one and only one” on a list of priorities we set?
Beloved, a list would also mean other things can get in the way. If that happens, there is a tendency to change the calendar. But our Lord God cannot be substituted by anything in our life whatsoever. This period of our time is not a time for our selfish priorities.
The Lord God is to be the pre-eminent groundwork from which all other responsibilities are built. The Great Commandments that Jesus gave us summarize the true priority as loving God completely and loving your neighbour as yourself. [Matthew 22:36–40]
The non-Christians can ridicule; they can mock – But the word of God says, “Jesus is coming, and he is coming quickly,“ more than we think and as we already know. So we believe the report of our Lord. Are you ready? And how are you sending the Gospel of Christ to your locality, nations and elsewhere?
Let us take some cue from the book of Matthew as Christians. And to the non-Christians that happen to come across this writing – it is not by chance, but there is a reason for you today to consider repenting and accepting the Lord for the celebration. “Loving this world is foolishness when Jesus is seen as fulfilling.”
So, my fellow believers in Christ, the book of Matthew chapter 24, verses 36-44, is a good reminder to us as ambassadors of Christ for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It teaches us that no one knows the exact day or hour of the second coming of Jesus Christ except God the Father. But Jesus gave us some clues about events to watch for as the day approaches:
The very first warning Jesus gave was about the rise of false messiahs, religious deceivers, and false prophets who would mislead many people [Matthew 24:4–5].
Conflicts between nations, national uprisings, and widespread military disorder as nations rise against nations [Matthew 24:6–7].
Severe natural disasters, food shortages, diseases, and plague outbreaks happening in various places [Matthew 24:7].
Tribulation, arrest, and persecution of Christians, causing many to reject or turn away from their faith. [Matthew 24:9–10].
Strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and distress among nations “immediately after the tribulation” of those days [Matthew 24:29, Luke 21:25]
The second coming of Christ in the skies will be the final sign of Christ’s return, and it will not be a secret event that day, but a visible, indisputable appearance in the clouds “like lightning that flashes from the East to the West” for every eye to see in the whole World. [Matthew 24:27, Revelation 1:7]
But, beloved, the season we are in now is fulfilling many of the Biblical prophecies and the Word of Christ Jesus. Watch the signs, and Matthew does not mince words. Be on the alert.
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”[Matthew 24:36–44, ESV]
On the Day of the “Second Coming of the Son of Man, this will happen.
“The skies shall part with trumpet sound, and glory break the silent night.
The Lord descends above the ground; in robes of pure and living light.
No more cross, no more scorn, but King of kings and Lord of all is all we will see.
A brand-new day, a sacred day; where every knee shall bend and fall.
We will lift our eyes to meet Him there, caught up in clouds to take our place.
With joyful songs and praise in the air, to look upon our Saviour, the Lord’s face.”
It is my belief and hope in Christ that we will see him first in the skies and join him in the celebration. (Inspired by 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 and Matthew 24:30)
“When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, lift your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh!” [ Luke 21:28]
God has given us a chance to be aware of these significant messages, so that we should “discern the signs of the times” and be ready; so keep Faith and Hope alive.
This is the Journal of Faith and Hope Diaries.
SHARE with at least ONE person.