Very Good -- Again

 Write From My Heart / November 9, 2020 / Very Good—Again

            Many of you may remember (the rest of you may have to “Google it”) a radio broadcast show from the mid-1970s hosted by Paul Harvey. The stories always consisted of interesting and unusual facts with something special held to the end. After revealing the special fact (usually an important person), Paul Harvey would give his famous by-line something like, “And now you know [here he would pause for emphasis] the rest of the story.”

            We have covered many topics in this mini-series: God created everything and found it to be very good; man took his eyes off the Creator and forever marred God’s creation; God desired to wipe out his creation but instead rescued one faithful servant; God enacted his good plan; Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God was born in human form—lived a sinless life—and although blameless he died for our sins as the only means whereby we might have salvation —and on the third day he was resurrected and appeared to many; we are to accept and act upon this Good News and share this Good News with all others. Now it is time to reveal “…the rest of the story.” 

Jesus Christ is coming again, and he is coming soon!

Acts 1:9-11 (NLT) After saying this, he [Jesus] was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

            When Christ returns in all his glory it will not be a secretive event but clearly visible and audible to all. Furthermore, it will be to gather his faithful people into his Kingdom. Many people teach this will be when “we all go to heaven.” However there are several inaccuracies in this line of thought. Yes, indeed, while the earth is purged with consuming fires we will be with Christ in the skies, but only temporarily. Our new home, The Kingdom of God, will be the earth made new and “Very Good—Again,” and it is not there in Heaven that we will abide with Christ, but it is here on the earth made new that Christ will always abide with us forevermore. Take time to study the following passages:

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NLT) But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

Philippians 3:20 (NLT) But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (NLT) We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.  

Job 19:25-27 (NLT) But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

Isaiah 65:17 (NLT) Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.

Revelation 21:3-5 (NLT) I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. all these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

Malachi 4:1-3 (NLT) The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed–roots, branches, and all. But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

            The Bible is full of so many more similar references. These verses only scratch the surface as some might say. I would encourage you to take time to study to increase your own understanding of Christ’s second coming. Having said this, these scriptures were written some 2,000 years ago and Christ has still not returned. This is a very real problem in our current times. Many have given up hope thinking his coming won’t be in our lifetime, or maybe not at all. Ironically, even the Bible warns of this feeble expectancy among many. That is where we have a job to do. As Christians, it is incumbent upon us to spread the Good News and encourage the faint-hearted that Christ WILL in fact return, and soon! The reason for the delay, at least according to God’s Word, is to provide time for us to do our job in reaching the lost.

2 Peter 3:3-15 (NLT) Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed. But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.

Revelation 22:20 (NLT) He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            We confess to you our shortcomings and failings. We accept your gift of love and grace. Now we eagerly await your soon coming return, but while we wait we understand the mighty task before us—that all should hear the Good News as we have heard—that all should have the opportunity to choose you as we have chosen. May we be faithful workers for your Kingdom.

            In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.