I Will Come Again!
John 14:3 (NKJV) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Important Events
Important events in the life of the Lord for the believer include:
1. The crucifixion
2. The resurrection
3. The ascension
4. The promise of His coming again.
The Crucifixion
We all know that the crucifixion was God’s way of providing a substitute who could and would bear the punishment that our sins deserved. I do not want to dwell on the crucifixion except to say that it shows man’s hard and evil heart in contrast to the love of God for sinners (that’s all of us). The Lord had done nothing to deserve what He experienced. If He was the Son of God (and He was) then the religious rulers and the Roman rulers were playing with fire. The Lord could have called twelve legions of angels to defend Himself and to destroy those who opposed Him. Instead, He said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
The Resurrection
The resurrection proved that God had been satisfied. Romans 4:25 says He was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. I believe that means that He was raised in order to declare sinners righteous. But He was also raised from the dead to make it possible for us to live again. He says in John 14:19, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.” If there were no resurrection, there would be no hope for the future. There would be no gospel. Paul says we who believe would be of all people most to be pitied because our faith would be futile or empty. The apostles who preached the Gospel would be false witnesses. See 1 Corinthians 15.
The Ascension
Forty days after the resurrection, the Lord took His disciples out to Bethany and ascended to heaven. The ascension confirms the promise that the crucified one is alive and well and is coming again. For those who are saved, His coming is a comfort. For those who are unsaved His coming is going to be a fearful thing.
His Coming for the Believer
The first epistle to the Thessalonians deals with the issue of what happens to believers who have died before the Lord comes. 1 Thessalonians 4 makes it clear that they do not miss out on HIs coming. As a matter of fact He descends from heaven to raise the believers who have died and to take them back to heaven with Him just before He raptures or catches away living saints. All believers are delivered from the wrath to come according to the first chapter. And in chapter 4 He makes it clear that His coming is a comfort for the saved, all of the saved whether dead (sleeping) or alive. But Chapter 5 indicates that after the rapture the unbelieving world will experience the day of the Lord which is the day when the Lord judges in righteousness. He will judge individuals and nations who never repented and believed in Him. “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. Paul says, “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, NKJV)
I am looking forward to the Lord’s return. I would like to be raptured but if I die, I still will not miss out. And it is all because I believe in the Lord who was crucified, who was raised from the dead and who ascended to heaven leaving us the promise that He (and not another) would come again.
He will come again! The Lord keeps His promises.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of April 17, 2022