Christ returneth! Hallelujah!

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat..." (2 Pet. 3:9-10).

When I first got saved over 20 years ago there were a number of bible teachers that made predictions about the return of Christ. When these predictions did not come to pass some mocked and others lost their sense of anticipation. But our hope was never to be found in predicting when Jesus is coming but in the promise that he will come. As sure as he came the first times he’s coming again. But sadly and with great implications the church today has lost sight of the imminent return of Christ. As a result Christian's are not living with a sense of urgency concerning the Lord's work. Souls are perishing, but many Christians are preparing more for their retirement than the Lord's return. Oh how believers need to once again get their eyes back of the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our savior Jesus Christ. I’m reminded of the great hymn by James McGranahan entitled, “Christ Returneth”:


It may be at morn, when the day is awaking
When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking
That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory
To receive from the world "His own."


O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song
Christ returneth! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Amen


It may be at midday, it may be at twilight
It may be, perchance, that the blackness of midnight
Will burst into light in the blaze of His glory
When Jesus receives "His own."


While its hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending
With glorified saints and the angels attending
With grace on His brow, like a halo of glory
Will Jesus receive "His own."


Oh, joy! oh, delight! should we go without dying
No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying
Caught up through the clouds with our Lord into glory
When Jesus receives "His own."

Peter wrote, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” This world and everything in it is going to burn up. Only what's done for Jesus is going to last.“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37). Are you ready?