Jude 1:17-18 – But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
Most of us are familiar with these scriptures. Certainly we know of people who have scoffed at the prospect of the imminent return of Jesus. We should not be surprised by that since the scriptures clearly say so here and in 2 Peter 3:3. However it should never be Christians who scoff. It is natural for those who don’t walk with the Lord to scoff at the return of Jesus. If they continue in their disbelief, the Lord’s return for them means the eternal judgement for their sins also comes (Hebrews 10:27). What is not “natural,” what should not happen, is for those who call themselves Christians to also be a scoffer.
Titus 2:13-14 “while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” To the Believer, the returning of Jesus is our blessed hope. I remember a young man sarcastically, with raised voice, who identified himself as a believer, telling me that it was an okay hope for old people (I was about forty-three years old) to look forward to the Lord’s return because we already had lived out our lives, but for the young, they want to live. I was saddened and did not rebut the opinion of the young man because he really had no desire to hear anything I would say. The truth is that all believers, young and old, should daily wonder if today will be the day that Jesus returns. We should be hoping for that because really, that is when the best part of our eternal lives begin. We must not be ignorant of the fact that this world is not our home, and though God has blessed us abundantly in this world, it does not compare to the blessings of living eternally with the Lord (Hebrews 11:14-16). We must never become too attached to this world (1 John 2:15-16) and prefer it, in any measure, to being in the very presence of God for eternity. If this does not excite someone, then some self-examination and some education is in line. Family, in this world we enjoy all of God’s creation. Yet this world does not compare to the joy that heaven holds for us. We can’t fully understand or know it (1 John 3:2).
Looking forward to the Lord’s return and hoping it will be today, as early as possible, is a positive factor in our lives. If we are hoping that the Lord will return today, if we are truly believing that, why would we cling to earthly possessions? Instead, we would rid ourselves of anything that distracts us or clings to us as we ready ourselves for the return of our Lord (Hebrews 12:1). It is often said that, too often, we don’t own possessions, possessions own us. Certainly we are thankful for the blessings from God, but if we are thinking that the Lord is coming back today, if we are really believing that, what possession here on earth is important? I think none of them are. Then, only the essentials of life are important. Thinking the Lord will return today keeps us from lusting for things of the world and lusting after them.
If we are believing that the Lord truly may return today, we will live our lives in a manner that pleases the Lord. The sinful things that hold us, we will shake free from our lives. We don’t desire to have the Lord return and catch us in the act of sinning. How horrible! So, if we believe the Lord is returning today, we keep our lives pure and possessions lose their allure (1 Thessalonians 5:4-11).
Titus calls the appearing of our Lord “the blessed hope.” Indeed that is what it is. Let’s be excited that Jesus could be coming back today. You know, He truly could be. Let our hearts be looking forward to being with God forever in Heaven. May we live for and strive for the return of Jesus. If we do, we shall be ready and unashamed. Let us not have in our hearts what the unbeliever has, hoping that Jesus will delay His return. That is shameful. Let us look with hopeful excitement that the Savior of our souls will return today and that we will forever walk with His love. What we realize now in part, we will know fully then (1 Corinthians 13:12). Jesus may come back today! Yes Lord, yes, come Lord Jesus, come! We await for you. We look out the window hoping that today we will see your return. Jesus, you are our great Hope. Come Lord Jesus! Come and receive our love and praise! Come Lord Jesus!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.