One Man, Two Very Different Visits
One Man, Two Very Different Visits
“so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” – Hebrews 9:28
Is there someone who’s visit you look forward to every time they come?
My kids love it when Grandma Bev comes to visit. Not only do they love spending time with her, but she always brings a little treat with her and they usually get to stay up a little later while she’s visiting. They have come to expect certain things from her visits.
I remember a friend of mine talking one time about how his view of visits from tow truck drivers changed over time. When growing up, his family had an old car that broke down a lot. The tow truck drivers were heroes who took his family home when the car broke down. In college, however, tow truck drivers became the people who took his car away if he parked in the wrong spot and then charged him lots of money to get it back. They didn’t feel like heroes anymore.
Jesus First Coming
Every Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. He came in humility, being found in the likeness of man. He went around healing people and proclaiming the Kingdom of God for the salvation of mankind. He took our sins upon Himself and died for us that we might live. This salvation is a free gift for all who would believe.
Some people hear how Jesus came the first time and figure His second coming will be similar. When He comes the second time, we can just repent and it will all be good. Some even say,
“Jesus preached forgiveness. He’ll just forgive everyone when He returns and everyone gets into Heaven.”
Jesus Second Coming
This, however, is not what the Bible tells us. He would first came in humility will return glory. Jesus first came to pay for our sins, but will return to judge.
For all those in Christ, this will be a great day, a day of salvation for all those eagerly waiting for Him. As Jesus says in John chapter 5,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” – John 5:24
For those who do not believe in Jesus it will be a terrible day, a day of judgment and condemnation.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne….And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” – Matthew 25:31, 33-34, 41
At that point it will be too late to turn and believe. So, let us believe and stand with Jesus, now. So, on that last day, His coming will be one of great joy and salvation.
Dear Jesus,
You humbled Yourself and died for me. Thank You for saving me. Help me to believe and trust in You and hold me firmly in the faith until Your glorious return. May Your name be proclaimed boldly that many more would hear and believe.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
