Just one word (devotional)

Jesus is coming

I think most people would agree that know the bible at all that there are many passages that address the issue of Jesus return. Most would agree that He has come many times in judgment, and as a babe in a manger, the Lamb of God, and one day as a conquering King, the Lion of Judah.

One Word - if you had to use one word to describe your feelings upon His return, what would that word be?

Let me offer you a few words this afternoon.

Discomfort

We may not want to admit it, but in reality it is not out of the norm for people to feel this way, and here are a few reasons why.

Because everything hidden will be revealed

lk8:17 “17 “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

Because we will be held accountable, responsible for every word and deed

Mt12:36 “36 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”

Because they may wonder is their name really written in the book of life

rev20:15 “15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

We know we all fall short of the glory of God (Rom3:23). We also know, or should kjnow that the wages of sin is death (Rom6:23) but that Jesus died for our sins.

Rom6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

and add to that

Rom5:6 “6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

And

Rom5:17 “17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

We may still feel discomfort standing before the Lord in His Holiness and our, well, not so much, not so holy except made holy by the blood of Christ.

(Transition) Ready for another word? I don’t think the first one made you feel very comfortable or confident did it?

Denial

Can the return of Christ, the thought of the return bring about the word denial? Denying the discomfort we feel because of our own unholiness when compared to His?

But hey, have to be honest, say what the scripture says.

When it comes to holiness, righteousness listen to this

Rom3:10-11 “10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God;”

We need to know where we stand, we don’t! Not outside of Christ.

We need to know where we stand regarding faith, believe, what do we believe and why do we believe it?

We are in denial that some people that we love, we prayed for that their eternal certainty, destination is uncertain because of what they believed, or did not believe. We wonder if we can, could have said, done something more.

Denial to the consequences of sin because we are a Christian, not a sin, but a lifestyle of sin, but just because we said a pray, we were baptized we are good no matter what we do.

(Transition) Please bear with me a little longer, I know these words, discomfort and denial are not encouraging words. Hold on there is good to come after we look at one more word.

Disappointment

Have you ever felt like you let someone down, like you disappointed them? Do you ever feel that you have let God down, or disappointed God by your choices, your words or your actions?

As a Christian, God sees you through the blood of Jesus Christ and knows you are wonderfully made

Ps139:14 “14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”

You can’t let God down, you were never holding Him up.

Isa41:10 “10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

You are His workmanship, His creation

Eph2:10 “10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

When we look back, reflect back at our life, at our walk with Christ would we be disappointed in ourselves? Well we know the answer to that, to make changes

Eph4:1 “1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,”

Keep your eyes focused

Heb12:1-2 “1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

(Transition) And that leads to one more word I want to touch on.

Trust!

When we come out of denial and acknowledge our discomfort before the Lord and know the truth that we cannot disappoint Him when we are in Christ Jesus, then we can learn to fully trust, fully lean on Him so we can be confident about His return and the day we stand before Him.

Pro3:5-6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

He made a way through Jesus Christ the Son

Jn14:1-2 “1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”

Jn14:3 “3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

and then

Jn14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

(expand on the way; the decision; the assurance and the confidence we can have)

(Song) (Prayer)