Looking For HIs Coming

During the Christmas season, we celebrated the first coming of Jesus.  During His earthly ministry, He told His disciples that He would be going away but that He would come again to receive them unto Himself.  The Apostle John records Jesus saying, "Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will COME AGAIN and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-2)
Although many refer to Jesus' return as "the rapture", Jesus referred to it as His "coming AGAIN."  Hebrews 9:28 refers to it as His appearing the "second time."  It reads, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that LOOK FOR HIM shall He appear THE SECOND TIME without sin unto salvation."
There are over 100 passages in the New Testament that refer to this coming.  Since Jesus and the scriptures refer to this event as His "coming again" or coming the "second time", I will refer to it as "The Second Coming of Jesus Christ."
Notice that the passage read, "And unto them THAT LOOK FOR HIM shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation."  Will everyone be "looking for Him" when He appears the second time?  The scriptures point out that many will not.  In the video documentary, "Before the Wrath", the commentator points to a survey that shows that less than 20% of the church is looking for His return.  Most of the church does not have a conscious awareness that He is coming again.  That is a very dangerous state to be in.  To the church at Thessalonica, Paul wrote, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; AND THEY SHALL NOT ESCAPE." (I Thessalonians 5:3) Escape what?  Escape the destruction and calamity that comes upon the earth during the Great Tribulation.  For those that are "looking for Him", Jesus will "appear the second time without sin UNTO SALVATION."  Whose salvation?  OUR SALVATION!!  Verse 9 says, "For God has not appointed us to wrath, BUT TO OBTAIN SALVATION by our Lord Jesus Christ."  God does not want the church to perish or suffer the judgment that is coming upon the earth.  He has appointed us to salvation, not destruction.  But destruction will come to many.  Why?  BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR HIM.  More likely than not, those who are not looking for Him will not be ready when He returns.  They will not make the preparations necessary to be gathered together to meet Him in the air.
Jesus warns the church concerning the consequence of growing complacent concerning His second coming.  Luke records Jesus' saying, "But take heed to yourselves and BE ON YOUR GUARD, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to (the business of) this life, and (lest) that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; for it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth.  KEEP AWAKE AND WATCH AT ALL TIMES (be discreet, attentive, and READY), praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things (taken together) that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36 Amp.)
Notice that those who are "ready" and "escape", are those who have prepared for His coming.  Jesus gave us specific instructions so we would be accounted worthy to escape and stand in His presence at His return.  We should not assume because most Christians are not on their guard, "keeping awake and watching at all times", that we will be ready for His coming.  The scriptures are clear that most will not be.  The Apostle Peter wrote that many will say, "Where is the promise of His coming?  For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (II Peter 3:4) The passage of time will cause many to grow complacent.  The passage of time will cause many to say (or think), "He's not coming today, tomorrow, next year, or the year thereafter."  The passage of time will cause many to become so absorbed in the busyness and affairs of life that they fail to make the preparations necessary to "escape those things that are coming on the earth" and to stand before the Son of Man at His return.
We can be ready.  We can face Jesus unashamed at His appearing.  We can make those preparations necessary so we will rejoice and experience salvation at His return.  It starts by "LOOKING FOR HIM."  It begins by eagerly anticipating His coming.  It begins by maintaining a constant awareness that His appearance is soon at hand.  It is maintained by "watching"...taking note of the fulfillment of the signs Jesus said would immediately precede His return.  Lord willing, we will be sharing what those "signs" are and how to make ready so we'll "escape" and lay hold of His great salvation!