Coming Soon!

"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30)

I was on my way somewhere recently, beloved, when I passed a construction site where a new store for a well-known grocery chain is being built.  The sign showed the name of that chain in splendid letters with the two words following: "COMING SOON!"  That corporation wants us as potential customers to know that if we will just be patient and anticipate the grand opening, soon a new store will stand on that location and serve the needs of all in that community.

Even as I passed by and read the sign, beloved, I could not help but smile and think instantly of Jesus' promise to us just like the one in the verse of Scripture above.  And as I see what is happening all around us in the world today, including the staggering changes taking place right here at home, I am thrilled at the prospect that Jesus is indeed coming soon!

If you've never read, and I mean really read, Matthew's twenty-fourth chapter, then let me encourage you to do so...and soon.  You see, Jesus has laid out for us the order of events that will precede His coming and, very simply, this world falling apart morally and socially and politically is a major part of the preparation for that coming.  It is not my intention here in this brief post to examine all the details of events preceding the day of His return, but rather to encourage you to do precisely what that grocery chain that is building the store is urging its future customers to do - anticipate its coming.  I want you to be fully aware of all that is going on around us, especially here at home, but I do not want you to be discouraged or fearful.  Rather I want you to see in all of it the announcement of Jesus that should gladden our hearts:  "COMING SOON!"  This is a time to rejoice, beloved, as well as a time to be as active as we can be in standing up for kingdom values and in promoting the message of the cross to this lost generation.  It may well be our last opportunity to do so.

I am not at all sure if we will ourselves become customers of that soon coming grocery store that is even now being built.  But I do know this.  I know that we will be a part of what Jesus is Himself even now preparing for us, what is even now "under construction."  What a "hard hat area" that must be!  One day we who know Christ by grace through faith will not have to think about Him "coming soon" for He will arrive in power and glory and every promise of Scripture will be fulfilled.  Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords will be forever all in all.

COMING SOON!  Could any news possibly be any more exciting than that?  Are you ready for His coming, beloved?  Do you know someone who isn't?  Why not tell them He's on the way?

Ron