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THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

“… this mystery … which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”, Col 1:27

So many people talk about the second coming of Jesus. Many attest that they will rejoice then. It is obvious they talk before the time and without knowledge, for the Bible says it will be a terrible day. Nevertheless, I believe no non-cleansed sin will be able to rejoice that day; and I also believe while people use up their time by trying to figure out what and when it will happen, or what circumstances will lead to it, they should rather forget how it will be and concentrate on Who and to whom it will be and just how to be made holy till then. We read from Peter: “Then, all these things being about to be dissolved, what sort ought you to be in holy behavior and godliness, (12) looking for and rushing the coming of the Day of God, on account of which the heavens, being on fire, will melt away, and the elements will melt, burning with heat?” 2Pet.3:11-12. There is only one thing every Christian should be concerned with: the holiness without which none shall see God, Heb.12:14. There is no way one may be carried to believe that one who keeps himself busy with matters that not even angels can come to know about, will be prepared to be taken up when they come to happen.

I wish to I could clearly state what has been going in my heart these last years concerning this matter. Nevertheless, I will take this time to dwell on this verse, which is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory”, to take our minds to what it means and why it so happens that it has to be so. The point is: don’t look for Christ up in the clouds – rather look for Him in you. "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?" Act 1:11. Do not waste time to guess (for it will be as good as guessing anyway) when and how He shall come, thinking highly of yourself again for Christ stated none shall know that much ever; so, why waste your time with things you will never know f until they happen then? Use time fully to try and cleanse your whole heart and find the abundance of real Life which may preserve you from falling into sin ever again. Do not let that kind of life be imaginary, nor a belief matter, for if is not so – it cannot be found to be so when Jesus comes. Jesus describes it as mighty rivers of living water and a city none is able to hide. Do you have it now, beforehand?

Seeing this is a most solemn promise God has made, we should never think it to be impossible. Scripture is so full of it and I have never heard anyone preach about this the way all should be preaching about it – having preparations in mind and not destination. We read from the mouth of Jesus (by looking deep into it) that the purpose of His warnings concerning His second coming was never that people should know how and what shall happen with accurateness, but that they should rather be doing till He comes, for it will happen, and just how prepared one must be even if one is a wise virgin and thinks to have no need of any of it. Quite often we hear Jesus say words like, “and that servant was not prepared”. Some won't be prepared because they are busy finding out what and how it will happen instead of what they must be turned into and how. 

The seal of all is that Christ lives in you as He is and it is not a believing matter alone – it has to be so for real. You cannot pretend on about any of this. You may pretend about your job, about your health, but please, do not pretend on this. This idea we get from Paul as well in one of the few occasions he mentions the coming of the Lord. He says, “For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are you not even to be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” 1Th 2:19. Mark these words: “… be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming…” Many may argue that this means they will be in that presence after He comes. I solemnly believe this means they have to share in that presence beforehand. These words, “Christ in you, the hope of glory…” should turn our minds to think more clearly about this issue. There is no hope for glory if Christ is not in you for real at the moment of His coming – at all. And, if anyone has this hope without life being real and abundant now, the hope is either false of in times of pre-conclusion still; let it be rather true, for we read, “But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.  (10) And if Christ is in you, indeed …” Rom 8:9-10. Many people are taught to believe they have Christ instead of having Him for real.

Let’s be assured now, that if we don’t share in Christ now, if it is not for real, we will not be able to share in His kingdom later once He comes; if eternal life is not real now, it will be less, much less, then, for a much greater void will fill us than the one we may have now. Are you empty now? Does church life deceive you somehow? Does Bible reading? Prayer, perhaps? Paul clearly speaks of “The Life that now is” and Christ speaks of eternal Life as knowing Him NOW as He is, 1Tim. 4:8, John 17:3. Even Moses talks about “the days of heaven upon the earth” in the book of Deuteronomy. If we do not see God now, we will not get to see Him later as well. Christ in us is the only hope of glory there is and there shouldn’t be any other thought in us concerning this all. If your heart is not cleansed, if you sin is not confessed by name and one by one, to people and to God, if your ways are not definitely and most earnestly left behind and broken down with, you cannot come to see God either now or then. We read, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God”, Mat 5:8. Even if this verse means to be something after this present life (which I doubt), we should take heed unto it, nevertheless, for it means, as well, "Christ in you, hope of glory". Amen.

José Mateus

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