“Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ:” Philippians 1:6
What a refreshing message this must have been to the church
at Philippi, to hear of Paul’s confidence in
the fact that Jesus was both the “author
and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). This confirms with them and us
too, that there is not only a “day”
in which we receive Christ, where we are; but also a day in which Christ will
receive us to be where he is (John 14:3)!
“That
ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,
nor by letter as from us, as that the
day of Christ is at hand.” 2 Thessalonians 2:2
We should not be “soon
shaken” or “troubled” by the “day of Christ”, we just need to be
reminded that it is “at hand” and be
prepared for it! This “day of Christ”
is a reference to what some have rightly called “the rapture”, after the Latin
word raeptius / raptus / rapere / raptum; meaning to be “caught up” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This age-old belief, that Christ
will one day mysteriously call out / catch up his own, has also been called “that blessed hope”.
“Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13
Do you currently have “hope”
beyond this life? If the last trump were to sound today and the graves of
believers released their occupants, would you follow them to be with the Lord?
If so, are you being confirmed and held “blameless”
and “without offense” through
participation in a local church?
·
“Who shall
also confirm you unto the end, that
ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1
Corinthians 1:8
·
“That ye
may approve things that are excellent;
that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.”
Philippians 1:10
One can only imagine what it will be like to one day be
going about the business of this life, then “in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (1 Corinthians
15:52), every Christian that ever lived or is alive at that moment will be in
the very presence of Jesus Christ physically! Wow, that thought stirs my soul
with two emotions, partly with abundant joy to be with my Lord, and partly with
deep sorrow for those that will be left behind. Christian, we need to keep “holding forth the word of life” and
offering it to others as we would a lifesaver to a drowning man.
“Holding forth the word of life; that I
may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither
laboured in vain.” Philippians 2:16
Friend, the Bible says, “the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8), are you ready? When the role
is called up yonder, will you be there? Has your name been written in the “Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27) yet? Don’t procrastinate any
longer, “make your calling and election
sure” (2 Peter 1:10), because
when he comes, he will come “quickly”
/ suddenly, and it will be too late…
“He
which testifieth these things saith, Surely
I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
No comments:
Post a Comment