men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being de ceived" (II Tim. 3:13). This is the most challenging hour in the age of grace. Never have there been greater opportunities for the Gos pel outreach and testimony. We should long for our Lord's return because of the great reun ion that is going to take place with loved ones who have gone on be fore (I Thess. 4:13-18). Someday, without question, Christ is going to return. He will bring with Him the disembodied spirits of Chris tians who have gone before. Our Lord will stop somewhere in the clouds as these eternal spirits re turn to earth to the places where their bodies were entered. They will be resurrected. Then, those of us who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord." It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Is there a loved one up yonder you want to see? Doubtless this is your great hope. We want the Lord to return be cause we will then forevermore be with Him (John 14:1-6). It is then that we shall be like Him (I John 3:1, 2). Every Christian is going to have a glorified eternal body lik ened unto that of our blessed Sav iour. You may have a body racked with pain, or that is perhaps not complete. The day is coming when you will be done with all those problems. I was speaking in a leprosarium in central Viet Nam some years ago. Before me were many won derful Christian lepers. Some of them had lost vital parts of their
Knight points out, "When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, He is not going to look for medals, but for scars." This Crown of Right eousness comes then as a reward for faithful testimony, even in times of severest trial. Do you "love the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ." No wonder this reward is considered by Bible students as the wondrous crown. There are some believers who are not watching for the return of Christ. They do not yearn for His coming. In II Tim. 4:10 Paul sadly reports that "Demas hath forsak en me, having loved this present world." The love of earthly things is one reason some Christians are not yearning for the Rapture. We should be reminded, as Abraham was, that we have a City that has real foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Here we have no continuing city. How tragic to become so involved in material things that we lose our heart-throb for the Lord and His work. Other Christians are not anxious for Christ's return because they are living in sin. No one wants special guests to arrive if their home is dirty. The return of Christ and a pure life go hand-in-hand (I John 3:2-3). Other selfish reasons are that some people want to be relieved of some trying situations. They are looking for a way out and this is the reason for their desire for the Lord's return. Such is certainly not a pure motive. Our relationships are to be considered in the light of the word of God. The rapture is not designed by God to rid you of all of your problems. They should be worked out before He comes again. We are reminded that "evil Page 30
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker