Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
We believe in the Lord who will come again
Acts 1:1-11“----- This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Vs 11-b)
Believers take great comfort from our Savior’s promise that He will come back with glory. The scriptures clearly teach us the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will return to the earth, in the same way, He ascended into heaven. At Christ’s second coming, He will fulfill the remaining promises/prophesies found in the Word of God. Jesus came the first time to suffer and die on the cross so that we can be saved from eternal condemnation. But death could not contain him; he rose from the dead and He is Alive and will come again as the King of Kings. That is His Promise and our living hope.
In Matthew chapter 16 we read “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 he has done” (V 27). Yes, he is going to judge each one of us and reward us according to his righteousness. I am reminded of a statement by the Late Rev Billy Graham many years ago. Rev Graham stated “Our world is filled with fear, hate, greed, war and utter despair. Surely the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the only hope of replacing these depressing features with trust, love, universal peace and prosperity”. Today when we look around, we can appreciate the profound effect of that statement.
We, the believers are commanded to witness the risen Living Christ in all walks of our lives. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). This is the last commandment Jesus gave his disciples, in turn to each and every believer. It is up to each one of us to take this commandment seriously and spread the good news through our actions, words, walks, love for fellow humans, etc. We witness Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. He is the only way to salvation. Jesus himself said “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). According to the Book of Titus, (Titus 3:5-6) the authority of our witness is the Holy Spirit. “He saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior”. Just like we have been saved by his shed blood, let us take every effort to reach the unsaved souls.
Apostle Peter reminds us in 1st Peter 3:15-16“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander”. Let us witness the returning of Christ to the world with humility, gentleness, and respect.
We see in Acts chapter 1 verse 10-11 that the disciples who were intently looking up into the sky were re-assured by the two men dressed in white. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Yes, that is our living Hope. In Rev 22 V 20 Jesus exhorts us “Yes I am coming soon.” Let us respond with Amen, Come Lord Jesus. Let us all prepare ourselves for His second coming.
Jesus is coming. Are you ready? – Matthew 24:45
Mathew K Lukose, Sehion MTC, Dallas