God is not like an earthly king.  The word of our King is reality – Jesus the King of Kings IS coming again. He is coming to gather those he has saved, completely eradicate sin and deal with treason – we will be with him forever.

John 14:1–3 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Acts 1:9–11 – And when [Jesus] had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Hebrews 9:27–28 – And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Do you think about Jesus coming again? Do you long for this? Are you anticipating this day? The way we connect with the Second Coming of Jesus is a barometer of the correctness of our vision.

SO WHAT?

Cling to Jesus, strip yourselves of all distractions, fight sin, pursue the Kingdom with all you have – THE KING IS COMING!

Context = Suffering for Christ – James 5:7–8 – Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts (live steadfast lives), for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

1 John 3:2–3 – Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

All those who truly hope in the reality of becoming like becoming like Christ will find beauty in striving for purity now. If becoming like Christ is what you long for you will be fighting sin and pursuing purity. Those who long for Christ’s return will pursue Christ until he comes.

Titus 2:11–13 – [Jesus] has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for (as we wait for) our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…

The grace of God in the death of Jesus has killed sin and created a people who have the Spirit of Christ within them. Christ in us should move us to fight sin, defeat worldly passions, live self-controlled, upright and godly lives now – in anticipation of Jesus coming for us. Maybe like cleaning a house for company.

Luke 12:32–36, 40 – “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Matthew 24:37–42 – For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

2 Peter 3:3b–4, 10-11, 14 – …scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness… ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Our King is coming back. When he does our faith will be made sight. The struggle will be over. When Jesus comes again he will bring the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and our eternal state – We will be with our Savior forever.

How we think about the Second Coming of Jesus is directly related to how we “see” him now. How we think about the Second Coming of Jesus is directly related to how we grasp the beauty and magnitude and kindness of the One who cared for us since before we were even conceived. If we see him rightly we will know the contrast between His ways and the ways of this world – and we will long for his coming. If we see him rightly we will desperately want lives that live in anticipation of his return.

Revelation 22:20 – John – He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!