In the twenty-first century, some people have redefined Christianity. They devalue what a Christian is and the important doctrines of the faith. “Don’t tell people how they should live; they might not come back,” they say. “We’ve got to be user-friendly, seeker-sensitive,” to the point that they change what the Lord gave us in His Word.

But if doctrine is new, it’s not true.

Here’s a truth that has been the basis of the hope of the Christian.

When Jesus was about to go back to heaven, He told His disciples, “Wait, and you’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,” and then He ascended in a cloud. As they looked intently up into the sky, suddenly two angels stood beside them. “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:10–11, NIV).

So the disciples went into Jerusalem. They waited in a prayer meeting for ten days to receive what Jesus had promised. Then the Spirit came, they received His power, and they started preaching the cardinal doctrines of the early church of Christianity, which have not changed: Jesus came to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. He rose from the dead. After fulfilling what God had sent Him to do, He returned to heaven.

At this point, a new age was ushered in. God’s people were no more a national people, Israel, but something called the church, made up of Jew, Gentile, black, white, Asian, Latino—everybody who receives Christ as Savior. What’s the goal of it? To spread the gospel and extend the kingdom so that more and more will come in.

When will this church age end? When Jesus comes the second time.

Jesus is coming back. He said that Himself: “If I leave you and go away, I will come back” (see John 14:3). There are many more promises in the Bible about Jesus’ second coming than His first coming.

Jesus’ second coming will differ from the first one. The Lord was born in weakness, as a human baby in a manger—perfectly human but perfectly God. He grew up, knew what it was to be tired and hurt, and died on a cross. The religious leaders of the day did what they wanted to do with Jesus, and He yielded to it. But when He comes back a second time, no more manger; no more being beaten or mocked.

How will Jesus return? Literally, supernaturally, descending from heaven. He’ll have nail prints in His hands.

Why is Jesus coming back? To establish His kingdom.

Now Christians over the centuries have disagreed on the details surrounding Christ’s return—the rapture, the tribulation, the timeline. Great men and women of God have believed differently. But God has used them all, so obviously this is not a critical understanding for us. The main thing is this: Jesus is coming again.

When Jesus comes, two things will end.

First, there will be the end of time. Before the earth was created, there was an unthinkable eternity wherein God always existed. That eternity will be ushered in. There will be no more calendars, no more clocks counting down.

Second, there will be the end of this earth as we know it. There will be, in fact, a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. No more Satan; no more temptation, disease, crying, or pain; no more taxes, evil, abuse, or hatred. Are you down for that? I sure am. That’s why the Bible ends with, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20, NKJV).

Some of us, unfortunately, are so entrenched in life here on earth that we’re not too excited about the coming of the Lord. We get a new sports car, and we want to try that thing out for a couple years. “I wanted that car all this time, and now what? The Lord is going to come?”

But as Peter reminded us, all our valuables will disintegrate in a millisecond. In light of that, how should we live? “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (see 2 Peter 3:10–12). We should live in godliness and sincerity, loving people and avoiding things that would drag us down. Our hope is not in material goods; our hope is in eternity.

We don’t know when Jesus will come. Just like a thief doesn’t send an email saying, “By the way, I’m stopping by to rob you next week, around ten on Monday,” so Jesus will come at a moment when we don’t expect Him (see Matthew 24:42–44).

Let’s lay aside things of darkness and embrace the light, waiting patiently with hope. We’re going home soon, when Jesus comes again.

 

Prayer

Lord, open our eyes so we understand the glory waiting for us with Jesus Christ. We look forward to the hope of a perfect eternity with You, God. Help us to share that with others. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

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