The Second Coming of Jesus is mentioned over sixty times in the New Testament by all nine of the New Testament authors. There are over 1,500 passages of scripture that refer to the return of Christ. That’s one out of every twenty-five verses in the Bible. In fact, seven out of every ten chapters have at least one reference to His return. For every time the first coming of Jesus is mentioned, the second coming is mentioned eight times. Jesus Himself spoke of His return at least 36 times in the Gospels. In the opening chapter of First Thessalonians, Paul is bragging on the faith of the Thessalonian believers and telling them how their testimony had spread throughout the region so that their very walk was a message to those around them. He begins with the triad in verse 3, commending them for their faithful work, their loving deeds, and their enduring hope. In vv9-10, Paul again mentions three things about the Thessalonians: (1) how they welcomed the missionaries with open arms; (2) how they turned from serving idols to serve the true and living God; and (3) how they were looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven – Jesus. Note what the Holy Spirit points out for us as the things that stood out about the lives of these believers in Thessalonica: (1) They welcomed the Apostles – i.e., those who preached and taught the Word…so it is inferred that they welcomed the preaching of God’s Word with open arms; (2) as a result, they turned from an idolatrous life to a life dedicated to serving the true and living God; and (3) they lived every day as if Jesus would return. They lived each day looking for and expecting Christ to come back. Which leads to a question: Are we like them? Do we live each day with a sense of expectancy that this could be the day that Christ Jesus splits the Eastern sky? Do we take the Second Coming of Christ as seriously as the early Christians did? As seriously as the Bible does? Do we take the second coming of Jesus serious enough or even serious at all? How does the Bible’s message of the return of Christ shape your life? Almost not at all? Maybe a little? Can you say honestly that you live your life FOR the return of Christ? OVER 50 TIMES we are told in Scripture to “Be Awake – be alert – be ready!” The fact is, Christians are to live in light of Christ’s return! Two things we need to know about the Second Coming: (1) It will be the last “Great Event” of world history; and (2) Jesus came the first time to SEEK and SAVE the lost, He will return the second time to JUDGE the living and the dead. Thus, Matthew tells us (Mt. 24:42), “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Maranatha! Our Lord is coming!
