Living In The Light Of Christ’s Return

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ … we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

Setting dates for the events related to Christ’s return is a popular pastime. Preoccupation with the when often obscures the what and why of that “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). It’s more exciting to speculate on the unknown than to live in the purifying light of what is known about Christ’s return.

The thought of that future prompted poet John Milton to compose this psalm of meditation.

WALK WITH JOHN MILTON
The Lord will come and not be slow,

His footsteps cannot err;
Before him righteousness shall go,

His royal harbinger.
Truth from the earth, like to a flower,

Shall bud and blossom then;
And justice, from her heavenly bower,

Look down on mortal man.
Rise, God, judge thou the earth in might,

This wicked earth redress;
And Thou art he who shall by right

The nations all possess.
For great thou art, and wonders great

By thy strong hand are done;
Thou in thy everlasting seat

Remainest God alone.

WALK CLOSER TO GOD
You may not know when Christ is coming back, but Scripture sheds plenty of light on what will happen when he does. Milton’s poem is a helpful summary: righteousness, truth, justice, judgment, retribution.

Christ will come to set things right. How should you live in light of that knowledge?

Be prepared (see Matthew 24:44).

Be faithful (see Luke 19:13).

Be blameless (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Be obedient (see 1 Timothy 6:14).

Be expectant (see Titus 2:13).

That’s enough to keep you busy until he returns!