Return Engagement

• How do you picture Jesus’ return?

• Is it something you’re looking forward to? Explain.

We wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13

Some people have made a career of predicting when Jesus will come back. Way back in 1988, someone wrote a book called 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. Obviously the author was off by more than a few years. More recently, a well-known radio preacher convinced his followers that Jesus would return on May 21, 2011. When that didn’t happen, he recalculated and predicted Jesus would return on October 21, 2011. When that didn’t happen, he apologized and gave up predicting.

Those kinds of assertions would be humorous if they hadn’t deceived so many people. Several families sold everything they had and emptied their bank accounts and children’s college funds to support the radio ministry because they figured they wouldn’t be needing money.

The fact is, we don’t know when Jesus will return. The Bible says we won’t know (see Mark 13:32-34). Trying to figure it out is a waste of time. We should recognize that Christ could come back at any moment. But that shouldn’t stop us from doing his work and living the earthly lives he calls us to.

PRAYER
Dear God, we celebrate the fact that Jesus is coming again. We trust his promise and eagerly await his return. And while we wait, we will continue to do his work. Amen.