What if Christ Returns Today?

 WHAT IF CHRIST RETURNS TODAY? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop

One of the most terrifying things that people in this world are unable to comprehend is perhaps the impact of Christ's sudden coming. Some of us perhaps imagine that it is an event that is centuries away or at best, an incomprehensible mystery that should be relegated to the periphery! 

Far be it! The coming of Christ is a divine calendar event that God has slated for His covenant people! It is as real as Christ's death on the cross that occurred about 2000 years ago! Every believer should be prepared for Christ's coming. It should not take us by surprise. 

Scripture says in Mark 13:32-33 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is."

Our responsibility as God's covenant people is to heed the teaching of Scripture and to prepare for that day so that we are ready to meet with our Saviour when He is revealed upon the sounding of the last trumpet.  We should earnestly look forward to Christ's coming and long for our eternal union with Him in heaven (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

No promise of Scripture perhaps brings more eagerness on the Christian community than the glorious hope of Christ's coming (Titus 2:11-14). 

I was recently preaching in one of my two primary congregations and I reminded believers that one of the marks of a biblically centred Christian community is their longing for Christ's soon return. We cannot be in Christ on the one hand and on the other, hold the things of this passing world at a greater esteem than the things of God. 

I recalled that some of our youth were planning for weddings and I could imagine how such a possibility would be processed in their minds! The imminence of Christ's return should not be a source of fear or uncertainty. It should be a motivating climax that concludes our journey of faith. Paul longed for his union with Christ, knowing too well that his martyrdom was fast approaching (2 Timothy 4:7-8). We too ought to be ready to meet our Lord. 

We all have things planned for accomplishment and that's a godly thing to do. We cannot ignore our primary things of life for as long as we are under the sun. 

Paul cautioned the Thessalonian believers to focus on their issues of daily life and avoid idleness. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread." 

One writer once said that we should plan as though Christ will tarry for a millennium but live as though he is coming today. How true!

In other words, we should not ignore our earthly chores simply because we consider that they no longer matter, given the imminence of Christ's return. One of my burning preoccupations today is the writing of academic papers as I look forward to completing my theological studies in due course, if Christ shall tarry. 

Now here's the million dollar question...

What if Christ shows up today? Would we be ready to meet Him in the air or would we rather that He tarries longer? 

This question is important for every believer and our response to it may largely depend on our philosophy on Christ's return. Some believers would perhaps wish that Christ tarries as they focus on certain things that they consider pertinent. I am aware that Christ's tarrying provides a window for our continued proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:14 says "And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

This end has to be consistent with God's divine calendar. If Christ therefore appears today or even as you read this article, God's divine calendar and clock will have struck the day and the hour, respectively, and no excuse whatsoever will be admissible for our unpreparedness.

Think about that...

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021