During long summer evenings, sitting on our back deck facing the beautiful Rocky Mountains, I often see the sunset piercing through the clouds, turning them all shades of pink, purple, and orange. Once in a while, the view is so magnificent, I imagine it to be a perfect time for Jesus to return.
However, I know that the Scriptures teach that no one knows the time or date. And I also know that when Jesus returns it will be far more glorious than a sunset over the Rocky Mountains.
Still, I allow myself to dream of the day—and there will be a day—when the Savior of the world will come and gather His own. Here are 10 reasons to look forward to Jesus’ return.
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1. He is our very great reward.
"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." (Matthew 16:27)
Rewards come in all different shapes and sizes, from the unexpected raise at work to our beloved pets greeting us with wet kisses at the end of the day. However, no earthly reward can even come close to Jesus—our very great reward.
Recently, as I was working on some song lyrics, I paused to ask myself if I truly believed what I was writing: "You are my portion and my provision. You are my very great reward."
When Jesus comes in glory—the glory of the Father—He will reward each person according to his works. And the greatest reward we will receive is eternity spent with Him. What an inspiration and motivation for us to continue steadfastly, in His name, until He comes again.
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2. He is our gatherer.
“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31)
Just as a mother gathers her children in her arms, or a shepherd gathers his sheep, so the Lord Jesus will gather His followers to His side. What a beautiful word- picture of comfort and consolation as we eagerly await Jesus’ return!
There will be no more loneliness. No more rejection. No more abandonment.
The perfect arms of the Savior will gather His people once and for all. To be embraced by the Messiah and know that all the trials of earth are through will be the most joyous experience in all eternity. Hallelujah!
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3. He is our dwelling place.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
In the uncertainties of life, the ups and downs and all-arounds, there will be a day when we will settle in our perfect dwelling place. Even now, Jesus is preparing a place for every single person who has put their faith in Him.
His words of encouragement, “Let not your hearts be troubled,” were not only for His disciples, but for us as well. We can look above life’s circumstances and know that there is a better place awaiting us. This is not our home. Our eternal dwelling place is with Jesus Christ forever and ever!
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4. He is who our hearts are waiting for.
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:7-8)
If you’ve ever had to wait for something important, such as a college degree, a job promotion, or family trip, you know how difficult it can be to remain patient in the waiting.
For Christians, it can be especially difficult to await the precious return of Jesus—the culmination of our faith. But the Scriptures encourage us to be patient, to establish our hearts, and to know that the coming of the Lord is at hand. Jesus is the one for whom our hearts are waiting.
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5. He is the lifter of our gaze.
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'” (Acts 1:9-11)
It was the Psalmist who penned the words, "Why are you downcast O my soul?" And honestly, many of us could pen the same words today. Life’s circumstances often keep our heads hanging and eyes focused on our very present troubles.
Yet, when Jesus returns, He will come on the clouds of heaven. And not one person’s gaze will remain fixed on this earth. Every eye will see and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Praise the Lord! Jesus is the lifter of our gaze!
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6. He is our keeper to the end.
“He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)
Life is hard to keep up with, isn’t it? The crazy pace we’ve set for ourselves is nothing but exhausting and draining. Fortunately, our Lord Jesus is the keeper of our lives. He who called us is faithful to hold us together. Isn’t that comforting? He will keep us firm to the end, until we experience sweet fellowship for all eternity.
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7. He will lead us to our true home.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)
With all the political tensions regarding citizenship, many people feel misplaced in this world. Sadly, many are torn from their homes and livelihoods without a place to settle. But one day, our true citizenship will be granted, not on earth but in heaven.
As we eagerly await Jesus, let us glory in the fact that we will not only leave our earthly homes behind, but be conformed to His likeness. Jesus will lead us to our true home and subdue all things to Himself.
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8. He is our rescuer.
“And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
No matter what stage of life we are in, each of us needs a rescuer in one form or another. It might be, we need to be rescued from sinful habits. Perhaps, we need rescuing from a season of depression.
Jesus is our rescuer, not only from the difficult things we are going through, but most importantly, from the coming judgment. As we look forward to His return, let us keep in mind that He will be our rescue and our refuge once and for all.
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9. He is the beginning and the end.
“Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! 'I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,' says the Lord God. 'I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.'” (Revelation 1:7-8)
My heart races a little as I read Jesus’ words in Revelation chapter one. Our eternal God—our Alpha and Omega—will return for everyone to see. Yippee!
Not only is Jesus the beginning and the end, He is the one who is steadfast and true through every single moment of our lives. What a day that will be, when our Jesus we will see!
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10. He is the Root, the Offspring, and the Bright and Morning Star.
“'I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.' And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:16-17)
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love descriptions of Jesus in the Bible. I cannot read enough about the Messiah and who He is. Sometimes, when I’m having trouble falling asleep, I’ll run through an alphabetical list of descriptions such as, Almighty God, Beautiful Savior, Christ the Lord, and so on.
It is so comforting to know who Jesus is and what He will accomplish on the day He finally returns. Hallelujah! Jesus is the Root, the Offspring, and the Bright and Morning Star. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Jennifer Waddle considers herself a Kansas girl, married to a Colorado hunk, with a heart to encourage women everywhere. She is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesn’t Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth.
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Originally published Friday, 07 June 2019.
