After His resurrection, Jesus was seen by His disciples during forty days.  At the end of that time, the disciples saw him ascend into heaven.  Acts 1:9-11 “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” Jesus will return from heaven someday in a like manner as he went into heaven. Paul taught the Thessalonians about His return.  1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  This world is not our permanent home. We should eagerly await the return of Jesus.

But it has been nearly two thousand years since Jesus ascended into heaven.  Some would think that He isn’t coming back.  Peter warned us about this attitude.  2 Peter 3:3-4 “Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’” Many people will think that Jesus isn’t coming back since it has been so long.  Years have come and gone.  The sun keeps coming up in the morning and setting in the evening.  Nothing seems to have changed.  It looks like things are going to continue just like they always have.  But let us continue with Peter’s warning.  Verses 5-6 “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.”  In the time of Noah, before the flood, years came and went; the sun came up in the morning and set in the evening.  But people were caught unaware when it rained for 40 days and 40 nights.  The earth was flooded and everyone perished except for those in the ark with Noah.  People were unprepared for the flood then and people are unprepared now for Jesus to return. Just as the flood came suddenly, the return of Jesus will be sudden. The destruction then was by water; the destruction to come will be by fire. Verses 7-9 “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”  The promise of Jesus returning has not been forgotten by the Lord.  To us, two thousand years is a long time.  But to God, it is like a couple of days.  Time doesn’t mean the same to Him as it does to us.  He is still going to fulfill his promise.  The reason He has delayed is that He is “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”  He wants everyone to have the opportunity to believe in Jesus Christ and repent.

Since it has been so long and Jesus hasn’t yet returned, it might be easy for us to have the attitude that we can wait to get ready for His return. Jesus taught in Matthew 24:36-44 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  Jesus also warned in Mark 13:32-37 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” The apostle Paul also warned us to watch and be ready 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”

My encouragement to you is to be ready.  When you were in school and a time for a test was approaching or a homework assignment was due, you had to be ready.  If you were a good student, you were ready when the time came. Many students procrastinated and were not ready.  Are you ready for Jesus’ return? Jesus said that we were the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Has your light gone out or is it shining brightly?  I encourage you to be ready for Jesus to return or for your life to end.  You do not know when that will be. Watch!  Be ready!