“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44; 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17).
Heavenly Father, Creator of all things! Giver and Sustainer! We look to You for our daily bread! We wait on You for all good gifts. We love You and we thank You for the promise that You are coming back for us! When You do, please help us to be ready! “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” Amen.
As a youth, one of the songs we sang in MV (Missionary Volunteers) Society was, What if it were today? A beautiful Christian hymn. It always inspires wonderful sentiments of Christ’s second return in me. I would like to share my sentiments of this hymn with you today.
- “Jesus is coming to earth again, what if it were today? Coming in power and love to reign- what if it were today? Coming to claim His chosen Bride, All the redeemed and purified, Over this whole world scattered wide- What if it were today? [Chorus]
Let us stop and let the sentiments of these stanzas have its effect on our minds. Can you imagine what a day that is going to be?
One day, we are going to look up and see the One we are singing about today, coming, not at the mercy of cruel men, to be crucified as a thief upon a cross; but in power and love, as “King of kings and Lord of lords! Coming to claim His Bride, the church- made up of all those who have been washed and made pure in the blood of the Lamb; the saved from every nation of the world, and from every walk of life, and realize that, it is “today!”
- Satan’s dominion will soon be o’er- O that it were today! Sorrow and sighing shall be no more- O that it were today! Then shall the dead in Christ arise, Caught up to meet Him in the skies; When shall these glories meet our eyes? What if it were today? [Chorus]
One of the outstanding features of Christ’s coming back to earth, will be the end of the reign of death and destruction, caused by “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). Can you imagine living in a world where there is, No more sorrow? No more crying? No more death? Oh, how I long for that day to come! I can hardly wait to see my loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord, and laid to rest, rise in triumph over death, at the sound of the trumpet, and caught up to meet Jesus, their Friend, their Savior, and now their triumphant King! One day this hope will become reality! Oh how I wish it were today!
- Faithful and true would He find us here If He should come today? Watching in gladness and not in fear, if He should come today? Signs of His coming multiply, Morning light breaks in eastern sky; Watch for the time is drawing nigh- What if it were today? [Chorus]
That is a question that we must each answer for ourselves, If it were today, would Jesus find us faithfully and joyously watching ? Or would we be watching in fear and anxiety? As we see the increase in the signs of His soon coming day after day, and we know that it means only one thing, the coming of the Master is drawing near, do we stop and ask ourselves that all important question, What if it were today?
My hope and prayer for all of us, is, that this will be our song of joy when the Savior comes on the clouds of heaven to take us home, may the sentiments of our hearts be that of the chorus.
Chorus:
- Glory, glory! Joy to my heart ’twill bring; Glory, glory! When we shall crown Him King; Glory, glory! Haste to prepare the way; Glory, glory! Jesus will come someday! (Mrs. C. H. Morris).
On that final day we will sing, JESUS HAS COME TODAY!
May He find us ready, whenever He returns!