Christ's Second Coming

“For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done."

Matthew 16:27

JESUS CAME the first time in a modest manger to save the people from their sin. Jesus is coming soon a second time with a grand entrance as King of Kings to judge the people for their sins and dead works. He rode the first time on a humble donkey. He will ride this second time on a brazen horse.

Christ’s second coming must matter most to the church because we are His bride, the body of Christ. How can the church be ready to greet its godly groom, Jesus? Like any faithful wife whose husband is away traveling for work or waging war overseas, we want to greet Him with a holy kiss. A faithfull church is not conformed by the culture; rather, it conforms the culture. The faithful bride of Christ is ready to rejoice at His glorious sight!

“‘Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)” (Revelation 19:7-8).

When Christ comes back, He wants to catch the church evenagelizing the lost and making disciples. He hungers for her disputes to be with the devil and not with each other. A humble church does not use finances to build man’s kingdom but instead deploys resources to advance the kingdom of God. The church is ready for Christ’s return when she serves the poor, ministers to the body of Christ, prays for the sick, and preaches the gospel!

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).

Christ’s coming is also compelling for individual Christians. We want to be about our Lord’s business and not preoccupied with activities and assets that will burn up one day. The judgment seat of Christ is for Christians, not to be judged for salvation but to be judged for the quality of their works. You are wise when you invest in eteranal matters with your time and money. Christlike character, missions, prayer, Bible teaching, corporate and individual worship, and service in the community all make Jesus smile.

When Christ comes, make sure He catches you about your Father’s business. “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).

How can my church and I personally get ready for the second coming of Christ?