Longing for Christ’s Return
- October 26, 2017
- by
- Ansley Rikard
Up until a few weeks ago, thinking about Christ returning made my stomach churn. I hated the idea. My mind would spin thinking about it, and I would honestly get frustrated at the thought of Christ coming back.
“Coming on the clouds”? No thanks. “Even so, come”? Nope. I’m good right here. I want to graduate college, get a job, travel, get married, have a few kids, then Christ can return. I like where I’m at in life. I don’t want Christ to come back. It’s not really a good time for me right now.
Oh how dangerous a place to be in. How prideful were my thoughts. How entitled my heart. To think that Christ’s new Heaven and new earth was not good enough. I’d rather stay here. How disgusting.
A few weeks ago, my pastor preached on Christ’s return. He talked about the attitude of our hearts, and how little our faith is if we cannot confidently cry out to Christ saying, “COME!” I had never thought about it like that.
John writes in Revelation 22:20 saying, “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Why was it so hard for me to say those final three words?
I began searching my heart. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Christ to return at ALL. I just didn’t want him to come any time soon. The problem within my heart was big. I loved the world too much.
1 John 2:15 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Woah. Christ commands us not to love the things in the world. I was not obeying Christ or following his command. Was the love of the Father not in me?
Upon discovering my lack of any type of desire for Christ’s return, I realized I needed to do something about the condition of my heart. I was in love with the world. These past few weeks, I have been in prayer, asking Christ to change my heart and rewire my affections. Christ is faithful, always. And, he has changed my heart and my perspective, granting me greater faith and trust in Him.
This is not to say that I no longer idolize the things of the world, but God has been gracious to grant me an awareness to recognize and repent of moments I place worldly possessions and desires above of Him.
May my own pride, selfishness, and misaligned love be wiped out of my life. May I long for Christ to return. To save his people. To reunite us to himself. May I, everyday and every moment, boldly proclaim Revelation 1:7.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
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