The Second Coming

My favourite column in The Herald newspaper is The Diary, written by Ken Smith. It always brings a smile to my face, and I have even been able to provide the occasional contribution! Today’s column included this interesting item:

“Away in a manager
READER Bill Arnott was cheered up in his local shopping centre yesterday by the sheer daftness of a message on a T-shirt a shopper was wearing.

It read: "Jesus is coming", and below, it added: "Everybody look busy.”

The heading is the giveaway to what was being said, but it did make me stop and think. Two points were being made (even if neither the contributor, nor the author, realised it!). First of all, Jesus is coming! This is one of the clearest predictions of the New Testament. Jesus, Himself, spoke simply and distinctly (would that some current politicians would do the same!!): “The Son of Man will soon come in the glory of His Father and with His angels to reward all people for what they have done.” (Mt.16:27); “When He finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with Him, the Son of Man will take His place on His glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before Him and He will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left” (Mt.25:31-32); “There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.” (Jn.14:2-3).

Others also testify to this fact: in Acts 1:10-11, the angelic beings assure the watching disciples that “Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw Him go, He will return!” Likewise, the writer of the letter to Hebrew believers: “So Christ died only once to take away the sins of many people. But when He comes again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for Him.” (9:28). James, too, makes such a reference: “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return.” (5:7); and John, in both his first letter, and in the great book of the Revelation of Jesus, the Christ, makes this Second Coming clear: “And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.” (I Jn2:28); “Look, Jesus is coming with the clouds, and everyone will see him, even those who stabbed him. And all peoples of the earth will cry loudly because of him. Yes, this will happen! Amen” (Rev.1:7).

The other thought that I had concerned the activity of the believer. The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not suggest that being a disciple of Jesus means sitting back and lazily awaiting the Lord’s return. Indeed, the New Testament writings make abundantly clear that, while our salvation can never be obtained by our works, however good, that same salvation should be recognisable by our good works! So Paul exhorts: “My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for Him is worthwhile.” (I Cor.15:58); “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” (Gal.6:4); “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.” (I Thess.4:11).

So maybe the message on the tee-shirt wasn’t as daft as it might at first have appeared! Jesus is coming; and those who eagerly await that glorious event will want to be found, not just looking, but being busy in His service, and bringing glory to His name.