“ Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13
On a rock island prison called Patmos, an aged preacher struggles through each day. He is surrounded by salt water and criminals. His hair and beard are white from his age, but probably just as much from his many trials and hardships. He has faithfully preached the Good News of Jesus for many years. He pastored a large church in Ephesus and has experienced the death of all the other original disciples of Jesus. He is weary and weak, but he has hope! What hope you ask? He is expectantly looking for the return of the Savior He so deeply loved and worshipped!
Of course, this is a description of the Apostle John, the only disciple of Christ to not die a martyrs death. At around 90 years of age, he was a prisoner on the isle of Patmos for preaching the Gospel of Jesus. In Revelation 22:7, the Lord Jesus appears to John and says, “Behold, I am coming quickly!” John becomes so moved by this wonderful message that he falls to the earth in a spirit of worship. I imagine he clasped his hands, let out an exhale of relief and then proclaimed, “Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).
The return of Christ is a popular subject these days. For some, it is met with skeptics, but the Bible says that for us who are Christians, the return of Christ is our “blessed hope.” Friends, the return of Christ is a message of victory, deliverance, and joy for us who have labored in service for our Lord, fought through the trials and tribulations that this life brings, and have longed for peace. The Lord Jesus tells us that this great day will usher in a time when God will wipe away all tears. When there will be no more death, no sorrow, no crying, and no more pain. No wonder churches everywhere sing, “What a day that will be.”
One great preacher once said, “This world is on a collision course with destiny.” The return of Christ is a realty. When the Bible calls the return of Christ our “hope” It doesn’t mean, “Something we long to happen but don’t know if it will.” Hope in the Bible is defined as a “certainty.” Friend, you can be as certain that Jesus is coming again as you are that the world is round, that the sun gives light, and that water is wet. It is a sure and certain hope!Are you ready? We don’t know when that day will come, but we can be sure that IT WILL COME! Don’t get caught up in the false teachers who set dates, or the mockers who long to ridicule. Receive the Lord Jesus. Accept Him into your heart. Love Him, serve Him, Look for Him. Three times in Revelation 22, Jesus says, “…I’m coming quickly.” Friend, don’t spend your life looking around…look up!
