Coffee With The Lord

At the beginning of this New Year part of my Bible reading included Romans 1:1-7. In that passage Apostle Paul speaks of “the gospel” (the message that brings “good news” about Jesus Christ). In it Paul declares that “gospel” includes me, a gentile. For that I am eternally grateful! That message, and the Person behind that message, transformed my life! He has made my life worth living and given me forgiveness and eternal life! I’m so glad I have been called “to belong to Jesus Christ!” I owe Him my all! I intend to live for Him with all my heart in 2015 (and beyond). Should He return this year, I’m ready!!

Here’s what I read and Apostle Paul declared…

“From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. This gospel He promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh, and who was appointed the ‘Son-of-God-in-power’ according to the Holy Spirit by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Him we have received grace and our apostleship TO BRING ABOUT THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH AMONG ALL THE GENTILES on behalf of his name. YOU ALSO ARE AMONG THEM, CALLED TO BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST.” (Romans 1:1–6 NET)

At the second coming of Jesus, He is not simply returning to catch away His devoted, obedient followers to be with Him in Heaven forever… He is coming back to take over!!

At the close of this calendar year again there is much talk about the sad state of affairs in our world. Evil abounds, injustice is rampant, oppression is real and leadership is often corrupt or incompetent… things often seem to be spinning out of control! Thank God for righteous, loving people who are “salt and light” in our world! But ultimately there is only one solution to our dilemma – the return of Christ and His eternal kingdom and universal reign! This could be the year!!

Here is how the prophet Daniel framed it…

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of Man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed!” (Daniel 7:13–14 ESV)

The last book of the Bible confirms this coming reality…

“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15 ESV)

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ ⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new!’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true!”’ (Revelation 21:1–5 ESV)

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city [the New Jerusalem]; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 22:1-5 ESV)

So here’s the deal… From eternity past, one day in Bethlehem God revealed Himself as a babe in a manger, fully identifying Himself with humanity! He lived among us, ministered to us, and died for our sin on the cross. Then He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. One day soon He will return, take His devoted obedient followers (dead and alive) to be with Him forever, and establish His eternal, universal, cosmic Kingdom! Wow! I want to be ready! It could happen today! It could happen in 2015! Happy New Year!

From eternity past into eternity future… The Jesus story! A manger and beyond! … His promised return …

His first coming was humble… He came to a virgin in a stable – his bed a manger. His promised second coming will be as a triumphant king in the clouds with power and great glory!

After his death, burial and resurrection this is what happened according to eyewitnesses… “While they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid Him from their sight. As they were still staring into the sky while He was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw Him go into heaven!’” (Acts 1:9-11 NET)

And since that day, His followers through the centuries and around the world have lived their lives in continual expectation that “today… this year” could be the time of His return! His return will be unexpected for many – but for those who know His word – His promise – although they do not know the “day or hour” of His return, they live in continual expectation and preparedness for it. Apostle Peter said, “Since all of these things are to occur, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, while waiting for and hastening the come of the day of the Lord!… acc to His promise, we are waiting for a new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides!” (2 Peter 3:10-13 NET)

So here is the prediction and my expectation for today or sometime in 2014…

“Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV)

Are you ready? Are you expecting it? One of these days, when the great majority of the world least expects it, He will return! But for those who are looking forward to His return… O Hallelujah!!!