WHEN HE COMES

Dear Friends at Hillcrest,

     One of the great promises of Scripture is the promise of Jesus’ Return.  The Bible’s last book,
Revelation, concludes with that anticipation and hope.  “‘Yes, I am coming soon.’  Amen.  Come, Lord
Jesus.”  (Rev. 22:20)  The Apostles’ Creed that we have recently studied together includes the
affirmation that “he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.”  The anticipated Return of Christ has
been called various things (Second Coming, End of the World, Rapture, parousia – that’s Greek!),
and throughout the history of the church, people have attempted to glean from the Scriptures the time
and method and place of the Return.

     The most recent such attempt has been that of Harold Camping, a radio preaching from California,
who had determined that Jesus would return on May 21, 2011.  Well, the fact that you are reading this
indicates that he was wrong. Predictions like Camping’s most recent one have elicited various
responses.  Some (a few) have actually believed him to be right, and hastily prepared themselves to
leave this earth.  Others took this as an opportunity to scoff at Christians and make fun.  Still others
simply ignored him.  (I count myself in this latter group, as I wasn’t even aware that the End was
scheduled until someone asked me if I’d heard about it coming and I never did get it onto my
calendar.)  Most people simply went about their regular routines.  Most Christian responses have
been at least a reminder of the Scriptures in which we are told that no one – not even Jesus himself –
would know the day or the hour.

     But that doesn’t negate the reality that Jesus is coming again.  So what will you do about that?  
What does that really mean for you?  

     One thing that we can’t do is drop everything that we are doing (don’t quit your day job on October
20!).  Paul writes to the Thessalonians about this, urging them to “warn those who are idle” (I Thess. 5:
14).  We need to continue to be productive in our lives on this earth.  At the same time, we need to live
in a manner that demonstrates that we are fully ready for the Return.  Don’t wait until the last minute to
get your life in line with God’s plan and will.  “Since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled,
putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet….Be joyful always,
pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  (I
Thess. 5:8,16)

    Will we be living in a way that shows we are ready for Jesus whenever he comes, whether that’s
this month or even before then or even well afterwards or even well after we are dead and gone?  Let's
continue to live each day faithfully following Jesus, bearing witness to his presence in this world, until
he comes.

In Christ,

Harper