A Prayer About Jesus’ 2nd Coming
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11
Lord Jesus, the two angels who spoke these words to your disciples right after you ascended into heaven can rightfully speak them to me as well. For much of the time I go about living my life just standing around staring off into the sky. I engage the “daily-ness” of life-even doing good stuff, gospel stuff-with too little appreciation and anticipation for the fact that you are actually going to return to this very earth! Holy Spirit, would you intensify the effect of that bit of good news in my heart today?
Lord Jesus, the two angels who spoke these words to your disciples right after you ascended into heaven can rightfully speak them to me as well. For much of the time I go about living my life just standing around staring off into the sky. I engage the “daily-ness” of life-even doing good stuff, gospel stuff-with too little appreciation and anticipation for the fact that you are actually going to return to this very earth! Holy Spirit, would you intensify the effect of that bit of good news in my heart today?
What a profound promise, “This same Jesus… will come back.” The same Jesus who has eternally enjoyed the passion and joys of the inter-Trinitarian fellowship… the same Jesus who created the world and everything in it, and who sustains all things by the power of his word… the same Jesus never ceased being God, but who emptied himself by adding to himself the nature and body of a man… the same Jesus who claimed to be the promised Messiah, and who went about demonstrating, by word and deed, that he actually is the Messiah… the same Jesus who inaugurated the promised “new creation” era of the kingdom of God…
The same Jesus who lived a life of perfect obedience as the 2nd Adam, fulfilling the demands of the law for us… the same Jesus who died in our place on the cross, exhausting God’s judgment against us and our sin… the same Jesus who defeated Satan and the powers of darkness and evil on the cross… the same Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day… the same Jesus who ascended to the right hand of the Father… the same Jesus who made good on his promise to send us the gift of the Holy Spirit…
The same Jesus who is constantly advocating and praying for us… the same Jesus who is being worshiped in heaven and adored by his Bride on the earth… the same Jesus who is already Lord of lords and King of kings… the same Jesus who loves his church, even when I don’t… the same Jesus who is actively at work in the world, redeeming his Bride from the nations, and bringing the restoring presence of his kingdom to bear, everywhere sin has brought brokenness and death … THIS SAME JESUS WILL COME BACK… IS COMING BACK, to finish making all things new and to usher in the new heaven and new earth. Oh my! And very Amen!