Significance of The Return Of Christ

If God is who He says He is, how does that change the way we live? If followers of Christ are destined to spend eternity with Him, how does that change the way we think? How should the expectancy of the things in our future affect our lives now? These are questions that often get lost in the short term, day-to-day, distracting events of our lives. But when considered, can provide us with a great reminder of what true expectancy of Christ’s return will produce in the believer. (Summary of Grudem - Systematic Theology p1093)

To begin, as followers of Christ each of us believes that He will return once again in bodily form to both sift through humanity: resurrecting those humans who are His. In addition to this, it will mark the beginning of the new millennium; A time where Christ Himself is the ultimate authority for all who remain in the world, concluding in time, with the final resurrection and judgement of all humanity and the beginning of eternity. This view is pieced together from Ch 56-58 in Systematic Theology, as well as through several passages in the book of Daniel as well as Revelation, several other sections of new testament books and statements from Christ in the gospels. All this is to say that the believer can anticipate Christ returning to claim them as His own, and all of the incredible blessing that follows.

I believe this changes the perspective of a believer as they live their life in four basic ways. First; the anticipation of this event will stir up enthusiasm and excitement to see the fulfillment of God‘s ultimate promises to His people. Awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:12-13) Second; it will create an urgency in our day-to-day life for the mission of making disciples. If we believe these things to be true, how could we delay sharing this good news with others? Third; the believer will seek to grow in their own spiritual relationship with Christ, their knowledge of scripture and the exercise of the tools God has given each of us for that process. And lastly; the believer’s perspective on the events of day-to-day life will be altered in light of the promise of eternity. 2 Corinthians says this “while we look not a the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”. In other words; things that may seem like a big deal if your life were only 80 years long, seem awfully small when compared to the eternity that Christ’s returning initiates.

I believe there is yet another far more personal application for this truth: the restoration of a relationship. The restoration of the relationship between myself and Christ which I have personally done my best to destroy through my own rebellion and sin against God, for which I deserve not Grace but death, but which He has done all of the work needed to repair. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God…(Eph 2:8-9) While I currently live in a condition of having received His mercy and grace, the true fulfillment of Christ's work will be fully realized upon His return. I believe that day will be incredibly humbling, and terrifying in the most glorious way, as I will get to meet my savior face-to-face. I will be completely known, completely vulnerable, yet completely loved. For on that day the believer can eagerly anticipate Christ extending His wounded hand toward them, and welcoming them into His presence forever, saying Well done, good and faithful servant (Mtt 25:23). While we can grow in our grasp of what this means before it happens, it is in that moment that we will truly understand who Jesus is and what that makes us; His son or daughter.