Matthew 24, John 14: 1 – 7, 2 Thes 2
Introduction
As believers, when we hear Second Coming, it brings either a feeling of joy or sadness because all we can think of is the reward. Joy that finally we will leave this world behind, be with Jesus, walk the streets of Gold and live in our heavenly mansions. Sadness because we don’t know whether we are ready or not, we don’t know whether we will hear ‘good and faithful servant’ or ‘wicked and lazy’.
Paradigm Shift
The second coming of Jesus goes beyond rewards – walking the streets of Gold and living in a mansion. If that is all Heaven has to offer, Bill Gates and many billionaires in the world today won’t find anything exciting or scary about Jesus coming back. Our mansions here aren’t bad. Unfortunately there are no mansions to look forward to, we read that scripture wrongly.
If all we are looking forward to is the crown of glory, we miss the forest for the trees. The 2nd coming of Jesus will be preceded by wide spread deceit, that even the very elect themselves can be deceived. So if all we are thinking about is what we will get at the end, which is basically “wanting” spiritualised, then we will miss the mark and fall easy prey to the wiles of the enemy.
Knowing for a fact that God is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, we are confident that whatever reward comes as a result of following Him will not elude us.
The most important reality is to Be Vigilant. A good servant is one whom when his master returns will find doing his job. The master has a clear job for us, a job description that is spelt out without ambiguity. Are we doing the work? Are we training everyone we meet in this way of life? Are we raising disciples? Are we sharing his truth? Are we doing our job?
Applications
The end won’t come until there is a witness across every nation of the good news. This means I have a role to play in ushering in the return of our King. Even though to die is gain for believers, we know many will be doomed if He returns today. Therefore necessity is set upon us, there is an urgency to work. It is not a sit down, merry and dream of Gold crowns, it is a get up, work hard and point many to Jesus life.
Paul didn’t talk about crowns until he had a witness that he had finished his race and fought a good fight. Let’s put first things first.
What Would Jesus Do
Jesus will act with urgency. He will go from city to city ensuring as many as possible hear the good news and have the opportunity to encounter Him. He will do all it takes – feed, quench thirst, visit, perform miracles – but all to the end that many be saved. Am I a harvest hand?
Prayer
Lord, we are thankful for your first coming because it gave us life. We are expectant of your second coming because we know we will have the opportunity to be transformed into your likeness and reign with you. However, today we pray for the grace to work hard at the ministry you have committed into hands. We receive boldness and wisdom to declare your truth, and bring everyone we meet into the light of your truth. We pray that when you return, we indeed will be found good and faithful. Amen.