Behold His Coming
By Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam
·
Will Jesus
really come again?
·
When will
He come?
·
Do we know
the exact hour of His Second Coming?
· How can we be ready?
THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS for His Church is the Blessed Hope of the Christian. Every believer anticipates this event. Even in the darkest hour, no trials, persecution and endless perplexities could deter him from lifting up his head to behold the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says this is the hope that purifies him (1 John 3:3).
There are two very common questions often asked about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first question is, “Will Jesus really come again?” The second is, “When will Jesus come again?”
“Will Jesus really come again?” The answer is a sure “Yes”. How is it we can be so certain? Jesus Himself declared in the Book of Revelation: “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the word of the prophecy in this book!” Then again, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Rev. 22:7, 12). He thought about His second coming during His ministry on earth. All four Gospels record this teaching.
The angels also declared it: “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”
(Acts
The Apostle Paul affirms what the angels declared: “For the
Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of
the archangel and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thesselenions.
The Church of Jesus Christ worldwide has the witness of the Holy Spirit in their hearts that Jesus is coming again and it is very soon.
“When will Jesus come again?” is the second question. It is utmost importance to understand when He is coming. Do we know? Can we know? Some believe He has already come. Others have even set the date and the time of His second coming.
Let us again look to Jesus and listen to what He has to say about His return. Mark 13:32 says, “But that day and hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father knows.”
I would suggest three reasons why only the Father knows the exact hour of the day.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew
25:1-13)
The scripture about the parables of the ten virgins says, “The virgin who were ready went in with Him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut” (Matthew 25:10). But “The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out?” (Matthew 25:8).
The wise virgins had the oil in their lamps and therefore they were ready. The Father wants us to be ready, and the way to be ready is always have the oil in our lamps. The purpose of the lamp is to be the light where there is darkness.
Christians, you are the light of the world. Jesus commanded
us to be so (Matthew
Jesus saves you and fills you with the Holy Spirit to live a life of victory over sin and unto good works. He does not need to know the day nor the hour. He is ready any time.
A Man Going to Far a
Country – Mark 13:34-37
The scripture teachers us to be actively
serving the Lord in the given responsibilities. This passage of
scripture is about a man going to a far country. It says, “He leaves his house
and puts his servant in charge (authority), each with his assigned task” (Mark
I thank the Lord that He saved us and also gave us the authority and power to serve Him. It is important to understand that along with responsibility, there is authority to do the work. The degree of authority is relative to the degree of the work.
Jesus has a plan for each individual, which is God’s will and purpose for our own lives. Jesus has also called all of us to work in His harvest field, which is ripe for harvest. We are to work while it is day. If we are fulfilling the call of God, we will be ready at any time the Father chooses to send Jesus.
The Parable of the
Talents – Matthew 25:14-30
The parable of the talents challenges the believer to be always fruitful. The scripture says, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21). To the wicked servants, the scripture says, “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).
It is encouraging and comforting to know that Jesus expects faithfulness in what we do. The size of the task is not the basis for receiving acceptance. We must always be found faithful. It does not matter what day or hour Jesus will come; we will be ready for His return.
We know Jesus is coming. Are you prepared? Our theme is a call to the church to be prepared for Christ’s coming.
Let me summarize what it takes for us to be ready for His coming, the time of which only the Father knows.
· Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Be the light Jesus wants you to be wherever you are.
· Be occupied till Jesus comes. There is no unemployment in God’s harvest field.
· Be faithful in living a life that is holy and God-fearing.
BEHOLD HE IS COMING…. what excitement, what joy, what anticipation for those who are waiting and are ready! It will not be a surprise for those who live in the light (1 Thessalonians 5:4). We shall see Him as He is. Amen!
No. 3, January – March 1989