Titus, Part TwoSample

Looking forward

“… waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

On the one hand, the Christian faith is firmly founded on past events: the creation of a perfect world by God, man’s disobedience that plunged all creation into misfortune, the incarnation of God the Son, His crucifixion, His resurrection from the dead and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, however, faith is strongly focused on the future. God's rescue plan for this earth is incomplete; we are in the midst of it! We are waiting for the moment when Jesus Christ comes to earth for the second time. The first time He came as a little, vulnerable baby. But when He returns, it will be with divine glory. Then He will end sin and injustice, sorrow, and brokenness. Then He will also pass righteous judgment on every human personally. For those who have rejected Him during their lives, that will be a terrible moment. For believers, however, it is something to look forward to as a “blessed hope” because they will be with the Lord forever and no longer suffer from sin and its consequences. Only then will their salvation be 100 percent complete.

How do you look forward to Jesus' return: with fear, unbelief, or longing?