Lesson Nineteen • The Return of Christ
Pastor Ben Kirkman
Growing up on a farm, my childhood was filled with many urgently repeated warnings. When I failed to consider those warnings, I often found myself in dangerous situations. I seemingly enjoyed finding out the consequences of unheeded warnings. (I am honestly not sure how I survived my childhood.) It was a slight challenge to decide which story of unheeded warning to share with you for this devotion; there are just too many from which to choose.
Our farm had around three acres of yard to mow. Every summer I begged my dad for the opportunity to mow the grass. Finally, after years of begging, when I was around eight years old he finally decided it was time to teach me to drive our mower. We started in the barnyard, a big, wide-open chunk of grass. The only hazard was a large drainage ditch on the north edge of the yard (by a large ditch, I mean it also doubled as our sledding hill in the winter). My dad mowed several passes in front of the ditch to give me room to safely turn and mow back in the other direction. He sat me on the tractor and stood behind me on the hitch. He walked me through all of the important how-tos and what-not-to-dos of operating our antique mower. I remember thinking, “I’ve got it, I’ve got it, just let me take my foot off the clutch and go.” Before I started he warned me, “Start your turn when your front tires cross the grass I have already mowed in front of the ditch. I have given you plenty of room to turn.” With that warning out of the way, we were off. I was driving. I was mowing! My dad was standing right behind me encouraging and reminding me of the instructions he had just given. As we got close to the mark where I was to turn, he started saying, “Get ready to turn.” As the turning point came and went he got a little more animated: “Turn, turn, turn! Push the clutch! Push the brake!” I completely froze. As my front tires headed down the ditch, I held on tightly to the steering wheel. In self-preservation, my dad jumped off the back and watched as I drove the tractor straight down the ditch and into the opposite bank. I was fine (I did put my mowing career on pause for another summer), the tractor would eventually be fine once recovered and repaired, but it could have ended very badly. I had a clear, urgent warning that I failed to observe!
As John is wrapping up Revelation, we see him urgently repeat a phrase from Jesus three times. In Revelation 22:7, 12, and 20, we read, “I am coming soon.” At this point in our study, we have already seen a glimpse into the Apocalypse, the judgments, and the glorious return and reign of Jesus. We have been made aware of what is coming. It is like John throws out this final plea as he wraps up this letter. “Jesus is returning, these events will happen, I am throwing out this final, urgent warning. Jesus is coming soon, do you believe in Him? Do you know Him? Are you ready for His return? Do not miss the urgent repetition. Jesus is coming soon!”
The Bible teaches that God is merciful and gracious, while His character is also urgently declared to be holy and righteous! The Bible also repeatedly warns that because of our sin we desperately need the atoning work of a Savior. Jesus is that glorious Savior. Do you know Him? The Bible closes with the urgent repetition that Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready for His return and to one day stand before Him?
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:20-21