Even so, Come Lord Jesus

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” Revelation 22:20.  When we say we believe something or have faith in a teaching, how does our belief affect our life?  Believing in something should cause an outworking of that doctrine.  Some have intellectual beliefs about the Bible, but little or no faith in those same beliefs because they have no fruit in their life.  If you believed your house was on fire, you probably wouldn’t sit down with a cup of coffee and discuss the philosophical implications of light, heat, and flame. No, you would grab your family and get out of the house. If you truly believe the Bible, you are going to act like you believe the Bible.

One very common theme in God’s Word, for believers is the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, one of the great hopes of the Christian. We, as it says in Titus 2:13, are, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”  Not a “I hope it happens” but a faith knowing it is going transpire. If you believe the Bible, you confess Jesus is coming again. How does the return of Christ affect your life?

The apostle John was captured and put into exile on the isle of Patmos, banished for preaching the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.  He was persecuted and afflicted for righteousness sake and banished to a rocky island, barren, desolate, and void of anything making Patmos a desirable locale.  Not exactly an island paradise. The apostle was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and received the revelation of Jesus Christ concerning the end times. John had little reason for hope.  Exiled, hated, persecuted, aged, afflicted; he dedicated his best years to preaching the gospel and teaching the saints only to end it in exile.  But John had hope. Not in changing the government to like Christians. John had no hope of living a normal, peaceable life, but his hope was in Jesus Christ.  John wasn’t wishing to die, but he wanted Christ to come back and get him, and his eschatology (the study of the last days) impacted his whole outlook on life.

Do you take comfort in the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)? Do you desire the return of Christ?  When is the last time you meditated on the soon coming of Jesus Christ, let alone desire it? Can you say, “even so, come Lord Jesus,” and mean it? There is a crown of righteousness in Heaven, waiting for all God’s people who love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). Is there a crown waiting for you? Do you live like Jesus may return today? Or, have the cares and concerns of this life taken over your heart and affections? “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not,” Luke 12:40.