May 19, 2023

Your Greatest Hope

By Skip Heitzig

A friend of mine wrote a book in which he talked about visiting an institution for mentally disabled children. As he walked around the place outside, he noticed that all the windows had little handprints on them. When he asked about it, the director said, "The children here love Jesus. And they're so eager for Him to return that they lean against the windows as they look up to the sky."

The second coming of Jesus is predicted throughout Scripture. He is the star on the stage of Bible prophecy. In Revelation 19, an angel told the apostle John, "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (v. 10). I like it in the New Living Translation: "For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus."

Someone counted that the second coming is talked about 1,845 times in Scripture: 1,527 times in the Old Testament and 318 times in the New Testament. It is mentioned eight times more than the first coming and twice as many times as the atonement. Jesus personally referred to His return twenty-one times. And over fifty times, we are told to be ready for it.

The prophets anticipated that Jesus would come in glory to reign. At Christmastime we usually read Isaiah's prophecy, "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given" (Isaiah 9:6). But listen to the rest: "And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever" (vv. 6-7).

Some of the greatest songs of the church have been about the second coming. Isaac Watts wrote one that we sing every Christmas even though it is about the second coming: "Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let Earth receive her King."

The believer's greatest hope is the day when Jesus comes in glory as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to establish His kingdom. And in Matthew 24:29-30, Jesus gave His disciples some signs that His return was near.

Now, the purpose of prophecy is not to frighten, but to engender faith. It's to proclaim that Jesus is in control of the future. Remember that He told His disciples, "I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe" (John 14:29).

Listen to some of the apostle Paul's last words: "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).

Does that describe you? Do you love His appearing? Are you eagerly anticipating Jesus' return for you? Are you like the kids who stared out the windows, looking for your Lord and Savior? Jesus said, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28).

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