[Originally published October 11, 2011]
Most people know of Christ’s first coming to Earth through the traditional Christmas story – the virgin giving birth to a child in a stable because there was no room in the inn, laying him in a manger, the angelic visitation to the shepherds, the star in the sky leading the magi to visit from afar bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, myrrh, etc. But did you also know that the Bible assures us He will come to Earth a second time?
A 2011 Gallup poll reveals that 66% of Americans believe that Jesus Christ is coming back to Earth in the future. That is at least 25% more Americans than those who claim to be born-again Christians. So it is not only Christians who necessarily believe it. A lot of people are beginning to sit up and take notice, and they believe Christ is coming back again.
But aside from personal opinion, Tim LaHaye points out that the second coming of Christ is mentioned eight times more frequently in the Old and New Testaments than His first coming was. This leads us to believe that “Christ’s second coming is evidently the second-most-important doctrine in the entire New Testament, for the only subject mentioned more frequently is that of salvation!” Tim LaHaye, Understanding Bible Prophecy For Yourself. I would venture to say that the two doctrines are inter-related, since Christ tells us in John 14:1-7:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. My Father’s house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (NIV)
The underlines above are my emphasis, pointing out that Jesus himself has promised us that He will return again to take us to be with Him in heaven (i.e., his Father’s house). He didn’t say if he should come back, He said, “I will come back.” So the key to making it to Heaven is knowing Jesus – really knowing Him – having a personal relationship with Him, not just head-knowledge about Him. In fact, Matthew 7:21-23 tells us:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (NIV)
So we see that our salvation is not based on our works (what things we may do in the name of God), but on a personal relationship with Christ. Those mentioned in this scripture knew about Jesus, and knew the power in his name, but they did not know him – and he did not know them. It’s not a head issue (knowledge about God), it’s a heart issue (have you surrendered your heart to him?).
This is where your choice in the matter comes into play. Many people have asked, “How can a loving, forgiving God send people to Hell?” The point is, He doesn’t! THEY CHOOSE to go themselves by denying His Son, Jesus, as their Savior. God has given us a tremendous gift in the exercise of our free will. He doesn’t desire mindless robots or slaves to worship and fellowship with Him. He desires that we choose to love him. Anyone who is married, or has children, will tell you that love, true love, is a constant choice that we make. Emotions are fickle; they wax and wane by the day, and the people we care about will say and do things that hurt us deeply. They will repeatedly fail to meet our expectations and will let us down. But if we truly love them, we choose to overlook their faults and forgive them, and then make the choice to love them anyway. This is what God does for us, repeatedly. We don’t deserve His love. We are sinful by nature, and deserve nothing but His wrath and damnation – but for Jesus.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18 (NIV)
It is my sincere prayer that you would choose today to believe in Jesus and the salvation He offers you through His death on the cross. The choice is yours on where you will spend eternity – God has already made a way for you, but you must choose to accept it – so choose wisely while you can.
Next time, we’ll look at numerous scriptures that describe the second coming of Christ. Until then, be blessed!
CHOOSE YOUR ETERNITY 