NO LAUGHING MATTER
NO LAUGHING MATTER
Today, many people laugh when we tell them that the Lord Jesus is coming back—their mockery, a very sign of His soon return (2 Pet. 3:3). But His coming is not merely wishful thinking. There are several reasons why Christ MUST return. Here are three of them simply stated:
HIS VOWS: God has made many promises, He has promised the nation of Israel that, through her, all nations of the world would be blessed (Gen. 22: 18) and that He would send a King who would rule forever, setting up Headquarters in Jerusalem (i.e. Jer. 23:5, 6). The tail of the nations will one day become the head of the nations! But Christ has also made promises to the Church. On the last night before He died, He promised to come again and receive His Church – all believing Jews and Gentiles – to dwell in the House of the Lord forever (Jn. 14: 13). So Christ must return because of the many promises God has made. "God is not man, that he should lie ... Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Num. 23:19).
HIS VINDICATION: God’s Son came the first time and did perfectly all that His Father wanted Him to do. God said He was well pleased with His Son (Mt. 3:17). Men did not accept the Lord Jesus and God allowed them to beat Him and spit on Him and kill Him. However, God raised Him from death and put Him on His own throne in heaven (Acts 5). Today, all who are in heaven give honor to Christ but it is necessary that people on earth should do the same, in the very place where He was once humiliated and crucified. God will vindicate His Son, yet! Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess – of those in heaven, on earth and under the earth – that Jesus Christ is Lord of all!
HIS VENGEANCE: As a Holy God He must deal with those who, at the last, have rejected His offer for forgiveness. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom. 12:19; 2 Thess. 1:6-9). To the believer, Christ’s return is a source of comfort. To the unbeliever, His return is no laughing matter.
R. E. Harlow, from Impressions magazine, Vol. 12, No.1, Everyday Publications, Inc.
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