Lesson Nineteen • The Return of Christ
Devotion 1: Do You Desire Jesus’ Return?
Pastor Roy Townsend
As a child growing up in the church, I always heard the saying, “Jesus is coming soon. Be ready!” I want to be honest in saying that these words caused great fear in me. Not only did I hear this message often, but we sang about the return of Christ in our worship times. We sang a southern Gospel song which included this language:
Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the skies
Going where no one dies, heavenward bound.
I understand that these words were meant to cause me to be glad, but I was still a very immature Christian. I did not understand the importance not only of the promise that Jesus is coming back, but the example that I should be desiring and communicating to Jesus my desire that He comes back!
Revelation 22:12-20 reads, “‘Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’ Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’ The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
We can see from this section that Christ has promised to come back, and this is a major promise that we as Christ followers hold deeply. In this same section of Scripture though, we see that the Holy Spirit, the church, and even the Apostle John, who was inspired to write the book of Revelation, call on Jesus to come. We can see that it is important for us to desire or live with expectancy for Christ to return. Warren Wiersbe writes, “When the church lives in expectancy of Christ’s return, such an attitude provokes ministry and evangelism as well as purity of heart.” How many times have I missed the point that the Apostle John commands us to say “come”? How long did I live in resistance to His coming? I was selfish. I wanted what I wanted! I did not want to miss out on life, and I can see how foolish I was in that belief. My encouragement for today is for us to pray for this expectancy. I want to pray that we grow past our selfish and fearful desires, and look to embrace the Lord Jesus as His bride by saying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”