The Future Return of Christ Affects our Present Life

Dear friends,

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3).

I was reading one Christian writer’s* comment on this verse. He made three great points, which I will summarize here and add a few thoughts of my own to each:

First, the fact that Christ will return is the motive behind our commission to make disciples of all the earth. That is to say the reason we ought to be busy doing world evangelism is that Christ will be returning! He will come again for His people and also to judge those who have not believed in Him.

Second, the fact that Christ will return is the incentive for purifying ourselves. This is to say that we should battle sin and temptation with all our heart because Jesus will be showing up in our lives physically, powerfully, and suddenly! This reality should greatly effect the things we do, say, and think in each moment. According to the scriptures, we never know when He will appear. What do you want to be doing when Jesus comes?

Third, the fact that Christ will return is the reason for the existence of the Church. We are His bride. Our purpose in gathering together for worship, edification, the ordinances (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), church discipline, and all that we do is to prepare ourselves for Him. He will be coming to get us all and we are getting ready together.

May our meditation on Christ’s future return be our inspiration for the Christian life today!

Your servant,

Stephen

* Jack Shuler on page 151 of Climbing the Heights. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, 1956.