The question “Are you looking,” always comes with the response, “Looking for what.” We live on the main body of a large lake. Often, I am asked, “Are you looking in the right direction.” Most of the time, my husband looks at wildlife that is swimming across the lake or a fish that is jumping out of the water and tries to point it out to me. Many times, I am looking in the wrong direction, or it is too far out for me to see without binoculars. Sometimes I expect to see something appearing different than what my mind has imagined, or it happens so quickly I miss it altogether. In the Bible, we find this to be the case for the return of Christ. So, I ask you, “Are You Looking?”
In Hebrews 9:28, where Christ is offered to bear our sins, the writer includes it only needed to be “once.”. He has presented Him as our High Priest and the only one who is qualified to die in our place. Because this Lamb was perfect, the Father accepted His sacrifice for us. Once finished, no other sacrifices ever needed to be made by an earthly High Priest for the people. The verse turns the corner to those who are looking for Him to come the second time. All those who repented of their sins and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior should be looking for His return.
Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
One of the characteristics of a true believer is looking for His return. Titus 2:11-13 says that the grace that brought salvation teaches us to live holy lives and to deny all ungodliness. Another reason we are looking for Him is because we are here trapped in a sin-sick world. Because of our love for Him and the promise of eternal life with Him we begin to look for that blessed hope when He will come again.
Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
In II Peter 3:12-13 we are exhorted to look with hast! We should be consumed with getting ready for His coming. Since we have always lived away from family I get excited when they are coming. When all of them come for holidays, I start thinking and making a list months ahead of time. Weeks before I start planning meals and trying to remember all their favorites, I am consumed with their coming, long before they arrive. How much more should we be looking for the one who made it possible for us to have eternal life in Heaven with Him? When you are building a new home, the closer you get to your move-in date, the more excited you get. If you have not been diligent to pay attention to details during the process you will become very anxious. If you are not paying close attention to the details of your spiritual life, you will also be fearfully concerned about His second coming. That is why it is important to make sure of your walk with God now.
I Peter 3:12-13 “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
In I Thessalonians 1:10, we are encouraged to wait. In II Timothy 4:8, Paul is thinking about the crown of righteousness that he will be given from the Lord Jesus and to those who will be there with him. He is not excited about the idea of being rewarded, He is excited about pleasing the Master and spending forever with Him in Heaven. Paul had been a committed Christian since the day he was saved. He never lost the awe of being forgiven by God and Jesus paying that price. His race was near completion, He had faced much conflict and stayed true. Now, all that was left in His mind was for Jesus to come and give Him his crown so that he would have something to give back to Him. We find our casting crowns at His feet in Revelations 4:10-11. We are to live our lives here according to His direction if we are to receive a crown to give back to Him.
I Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
II Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Revelation 4:10-11”The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”
Jesus is coming back. We do not know the hour or day. In Matthew 24:36 we are taught only God the Father knows. “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” One day He will turn to His Son and tell Him to go get His children. That will be the day we will see Him coming. I hope you are excited about His second coming, be ready, look to the sky each day because He is coming. Are you looking for Him? If not, why? Is it because you love this world too much? Is it because you think you’ll have time to get ready when you see Him? If that is what you believe, you are dead wrong! I Corinthians 15:51-52 teaches us it will be as quick as “the twinkling of an eye.” That is the least conceivable amount of time. Paul is telling us His appearance will be instantaneous there will be no more preparation. If you are not ready, you will be lost forever. Are you looking?
I Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
I Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
