Come, Lord Jesus
Life in this world fills us with great concern. There are problems everywhere, be it with drugs, alien immigration or political disputes. Add to that poverty, incurable diseases and global warming. There is child pornography, human trafficking and indiscriminate violence. The proliferation of nuclear weapons, wars and terrorist attacks are causing concern. There seems to be no solution to this unless Jesus comes again, and very soon. No wonder, then, that Christians are longing for Jesus' second coming and praying, "Come, Jesus, come!"
Christians trust in Jesus' promised return and expect the fulfillment of this prophecy. The interpretation of biblical prophecies turns out to be quite a complicated matter because they have been fulfilled in a way that is not expected to be. Even the prophets did not know what to do. For example, they had no idea how the Messiah would be born as a baby and be both human and God (1. Petrus 1,10-12). How should Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, be able to suffer and die for our sins and still be God? It was only when it really happened that it could have been understood. But even then, the educated priests, scribes, and Pharisees did not understand. Instead of accepting Jesus with open arms, they seek to kill him.
It may be fascinating to speculate about how prophecy will come true in the future. But fixing our salvation by these interpretations is neither wise nor wise, especially with regard to the end times. Year after year, self-proclaimed prophets foretell a specific date for the return of Christ, but so far they have all been wrong. Why is that? Because the Bible has always told us that we cannot know the time, hour, or day for these things (Acts 1,7; Matthew 24,36; Mark 13,32). One hears among Christians: “The situation in the world is getting worse and worse! Certainly we are now living in the last days." These thoughts have accompanied Christians throughout the centuries. They all felt like they were living in the last days - and strangely enough, they were right. “The Last Days” began with the birth of Jesus. That is why Christians have been living in the end times since Jesus' first coming. When Paul said to Timothy that "difficult times will come in the last days" (2. Timothy 3,1), he was not speaking of a specific time or day in the future. Paul added that in the last days people would think highly of themselves and be greedy, brutal, blasphemers, ungrateful, unforgiving, and so on. Then he warned: "Avoid such people" (2. Timothy 3,2-5). Obviously such people must have existed back then. Why else would Paul instruct the church to stay away from them? In Matthew 24,6-7 we are told that nations will rise up against each other and that there will be many wars. This is nothing new. When was there ever a time when there was no war in the world? Times have always been bad and it just keeps getting worse, not better. We wonder how bad it has to get before Christ returns. I dont know.
Paul wrote: "But with evil people and deceivers the longer it gets, the worse it gets" (2. Timothy 3,13). As bad as it gets, Paul continues: "But you continue in what you have learned and what is committed to you" (2. Timothy 3,14).
In other words, no matter how bad it gets, we should keep our faith in Christ. We should do what we have experienced and learned from the Scriptures through the Holy Spirit. Amidst Bible prophecy, God is always telling people not to be afraid. “Fear not!” (Daniel 10,12.19). Bad things will happen, but God rules over everything. Jesus said, "I have spoken this to you so that you may have peace in me. In the world you are afraid; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16,33).
There are two ways to look at the words, "Come Jesus, come." One expresses longing for the return of Christ. The second, our prayer request, in the book of Revelation "Amen, yes, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22,20).
“I entrust my heart to you and take up residence within me. help me to know you better Give me your peace in this chaotic world".
Let's take more time to live in a personal relationship with Christ! Then we need not worry about the end of the world.
by Barbara Dahlgren