Open Arms

Open Arms

Come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22:20

IN WORD When the return of Jesus is mentioned, how do you react? Does your inner voice say, “No, not yet”? Or does it say, “Yes, Lord, come”? The Christian’s hope is always focused on His return. But it isn’t always focused on His quick return.

The church is filled with folks who see the return of Jesus as a one-day-in-the-future kind of event. It’s so far ahead that it seems to have no practical impact. Perhaps it’s natural for us to want to delay His return. If He’s coming later, we can settle into the life we plan to lead right now. But if He’s coming soon, we fear the uncertainty and chaos that will likely precede Him. We worry about the loose ends we haven’t tied up yet. We’re not quite ready.

The consistent plea of Scripture is to get ready. Jesus told His disciples to be ready—not only the ones who followed Him in Galilee and Judea but also the ones who follow Him today. In all ages and all times, we are urged to be ready. God doesn’t tell us the day and the hour because those who live long before it would live without anticipation of His appearance. And the prospect of His appearance can have a dramatic, positive influence on how we live our lives.

That’s why it’s imperative that Christians not assume His return is too far in the future. It may be centuries or even millennia from now, but we must expect it today. When we do, we will live as a bride getting ready for her wedding day—with excitement, expectation, purity, and purpose. Our lives will be shaped not by our past, as the psychologists insist, but by our future, as our God insists. We will grow into the image He has given us.

IN DEED If we really think about it, that day comes soon enough for all of us. We may not be standing on this earth when Jesus breaks forth into it, but every day we live, there’s a chance that our next one will be in His presence. Are you ready? When John wrote, he welcomed Jesus with open arms. Can you? When He says He is coming soon, does it thrill your soul?

Christ has told us He will come, but not when, that we might never put off our clothes, or put out the candle.

—WILLIAM GURNALL