As a younger believer, whenever I saw words like “second coming”, “rapture”, “judgement”, fear and hopelessness were my immediate reactions. I wasn’t sure of my salvation or destination after death, and I did not really know the Lord at that time.
However, after a few months or years of staying consistently under God’s Word and being assured of my salvation and destination in Christ, my fear of the second coming of Christ changed to joyful expectation and gratitude to Jesus for the gift of salvation.
What exactly should be the believer’s attitude to the return of Christ? Should we be afraid of judgement? What should we expect at His return?
The Bible does not leave us in the dark as regards the second coming of Christ and what a believer’s attitude to it should be.
“…This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 11
“…and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”Heb. 9:28
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil. 2:20
It is clear from scriptures that believers are expected to be joyful about the second coming of Christ. We are meant to eagerly await his second coming. Our attitude to it should not be of fear but of joy that at last we will see Him face to face and be like Him just as He is.
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 Jn 5:2
However, we are further instructed that those are hoping to see Jesus again will live a life of purity because without holiness no man shall see the Lord.
“All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as He is pure.” 1 Jn 5:3
Also, God expects us to stay within close range with other believers and to make it a point of duty to encourage others in the faith. We live in a world that is not believer-friendly at all, this is why it is just important that believers are vitally connected to each other.
“Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Heb. 10:25
As we expect the return of the Lord, believers should be about the business of the Master. A believer preparing for the second coming of Christ should be busy doing the Master’s business. There is no break time in doing the work of the Lord, neither should we allow the world around us to make us cold towards His assignment on earth. We must work with the consciousness that our works will be tested by fire.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” Matt. 24: 45-46
Lastly, we should be conscious that we will be rewarded for every work done for the Master. Nothing we do with eternity in view goes unrewarded.
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” Rev. 22:12
“But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thes. 5: 4,6-9
Written By Sis Gbemisola Dawn Fache (Team Watchmen)