Every December we focus on the arrival of baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. His birth revolutionized our communication and relationship with God, and we love paying homage to the Son who gave up the glory of Heaven for the pain of the cross. But Christmas is also a perfect time to look ahead to His return. I had someone ask me the other day if it was okay to pray for Jesus to come back. She was disillusioned with our current culture and the evil that seemed to be lurking everywhere.
Is it okay to pray for His return? Absolutely! Revelation 22:20 testifies to this fact: Come, Lord Jesus. Throughout God’s Word, scriptures remind us that we will not know the exact time, but we will recognize the hour or the season. Christ’s return is not set in stone. We are encouraged to be on the watch, to be diligent in building His Kingdom, and to desire its coming.
The Jews waited generations for the Messiah to appear. They clung to the promises of God that He would one day send a new kind of King to rule and reign. By the time Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem, thousands of days had been spent praying, longing, and watching for this Savior to arrive.
Just like their desire to see the Messiah, our hearts should be rejoicing in the idea that the second coming could be near. Four times in the book of Revelation, Jesus said to the churches, “I am coming soon!” His statement has encouraged Christians for centuries. Each generation should embrace the possibility that they could witness the trumpet sound with Jesus descending in triumph.
Every day should find us expressing a longing for Christ’s return. Therefore, this holiday season celebrate with a new perspective of rejoicing in the fact that not only did Christ come to this earth to save a hurt and dying world, but He is coming back to claim His children and take them to a place He has been preparing for us.
Come, Lord Jesus!
About Shelley Pulliam
Howdy! (A girl from Oklahoma has to use this as her greeting) I’m Shelley Pulliam, executive director of Arise Ministries and former teacher of hormone-filled 8th graders. But my real claim to fame rests in my award as second grade spelling bee champ and my recent gun-handling skills as I train to competition shoot. It helps me be on guard when Satan comes knocking. I’m a voracious reader and can frequently be found at the theater enjoying movie marathons where my record stands at six in one day. I’m a single, never married, who loves to pour into children at every opportunity. Let me know if you have any for sale. You can connect with me on social media. https://www.instagram.com/shelleypulliam/