The Return of the Lord

Bible Reading:

(Malachi 3:2) But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

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Surprise. That is what most people will first feel when Christ returns. Surprise because they had spent their lives believing that He doesn't exist. Surprise because they didn't believe He would return. Surprise because they didn't think His return would be in their lifetime.

Fear. That is what most people will next feel when Christ returns. They will fear His mighty and fair judgment of their unbelief. They will fear His power when He overcomes their mightiest armies with a single word. They will fear His righteousness and justice which stands victorious over all who would oppose Him.

The return of Christ is an awesome thing to think about, but to behold it is another thing all together. Who can stand? Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. His enemies will be His footstool, and they will be destroyed, broken, and His wrath will escape none.

But to the Believer, the ones who love His appearing, such fear flees rapidly for their faith. His blood has been spilt to wash them of their sins. His promise is their escaping the wrath and judgment of the Lord. There is, therefore, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. To the believer, the return of Christ is a blessed event, a hope filled with joy. Christ's coming means their salvation, victory, and glorification. His coming means that final transformation into the holiness and purity of Christ is upon them.

C. H. Spurgeon -

Let us search ourselves this morning and make our calling and election sure, so that the coming of the Lord may cause no dark forebodings in our mind. O for grace to cast away all hypocrisy, and to be found of him sincere and without rebuke in the day of his appearing.

A Snapshot In Time

I know my blog is usually devotions. Good that it is. The focus should be on the Lord. But sometimes we need to see where we live - the Bible calls it "walking circumspectly." So I'd like to share with you a little of how un-Christ-like thins are today.

Scanning the headlines of my two favorite Christian Internet News Networks (CNSNews.com and OneNewsNow), I found the following headlines. They aren't much individually, but taken together, they can tell a remarkable story.

CNSNews Headlines:

• Morning News Shows "Promoting" Democrats, Study Finds - this should be a "no brainer, but I suppose seeing it in writing establishes the fact. We all know about liberal media bias. This just shows how "in your face" they can be.
• Controversial Arab School to Open Next Week - do you suppose a local government would also sponsor a Christian school? Not hardly! I guess we should just hand our nation over to the Muslims and be done with it.
• Anti-gay Remarks Cost Mayor His Seat on Tourism Board - Of course this just means that the homosexuals get to run our country while everyone else moves over. I guess it's not just the Muslims who want our nation. What's going to happen when the Muslims and the Gays have to duke it out for power?
• Lesbian Could Head Episcopal Diocese - So the mainline denominations have finally and completely put their Bibles away and decided that they want a religion rather than a relationship with Jesus Christ. The homosexuals love that. It's old news, but one "priest" has even said that she's both Christian and Muslim. I suppose this is a political move to keep her priesthood when the Homosexuals and Muslims start fighting for power. Either way, her job is secure. She's embraced both - for now!

OneNewsNow.com Headlines

• California Teacher Offended by 'Manipulative, dishonest' NEA Tactics - the educators of America are united in their secretly destructive philosophies to ruin our children through immorality, smut, and the homosexual agenda.
• Holiday Inn Dumps Christian Banquet; Group Says "Anti-Christian" discrimination at play - Just one more way to put down the Christian and promote the homosexual agenda.
• Illinois School Pushes Smut on Children - Is this really a surprise (See NEA above). But making this smut a requirement for summer reading - it's no wonder the homeschool movement is growing in our country.
• TV Ministry Watchdog Calls Televangelists' Divorce Terrible Testimony - and so do I. The attacks on Christians by unbelievers is strong - yes - but so are the attacks on the family by the unseen world. It almost seems like the enemy is winning. Fortunately we know the rest of the story. I only wish that so many people would not be put in doubt by these unfortunate events. This is why holy living is so important.

Some might think some of these stories to be a bit exaggerated. However, the sheer number of stories like this tell us that there is something bigger happening than any one of these stories tells. There is a spiritual darkening moving across the land. Christians need to not only live holy, but speak boldly. There is only one hope - Jesus Christ!

Bro. Greg