Acts 1
KJV
11+ Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
This was said many centuries ago and has remained the main hope and expectation of all believers!
Can it truly be said that we await with preparation and expectation, His second coming?
When was the last time you heard a sermon on The Second Coming? It has been assumed and therefore pushed to the back burner. This explains why the faith of many has grown cold because they’ve lost appetite for heaven. Hmmm
Rereading these scriptures brought to mind the famous statement often heard at the end of every Fu Manchu film series from the lips of popular actor Christopher Lee, aka Fu Manchu!
In our youth (1960/70) we watched a series of films depicting a notorious underworld figure called Fu Manchu. Though at the end of every series he would be caught, yet before the film is brought to a close he would appear and utter the words “ the world shall hear of me again”
As naive as we then were, this statement from Fu Manchu frightens us because we see him appear in another episode; we often wonder how he could reappear after his death! Truly, It is great to be young!
Reading what the angel told the disciples should remind us that “
this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
This means Jesus will return in a physical form and not as a spirit as some claim and will be seen by all! What is unknown is the when! The ‘how’ we know, the ‘where He will come from’ we know.
Have you thought about this? On that day a great mystery shall be solved as we shall see Him as He is! Whether white, black, yellow-skinned etc we don’t know. That day and hour shall declare! Truly we look forward to that day and His appearance.
Beloved, since we don’t know the “when” let each be always ready so His return does not take him/her unaware. The question that should be of great concern is where will He find us? In what state or condition? Peaceful or angry, loving or hating? Etc. Think about this.
This question worried Fanny J Crosby (1820-1915) a blind songwriter which led her to write this hymn ;
1. When Jesus comes to reward His servants,
Whether it be noon or night,
Faithful to Him will He find us watching,
With our lamps all trimmed and bright?
(Oh, can we say we are ready, brother?
Ready for the soul’s bright home?
Say, will He find you and me still watching,
Waiting, waiting when the Lord shall come?)
2
If at the dawn of the early morning,
He shall call us one by one,
When to the Lord we restore our talents,
Will He answer thee—Well done?
3
Have we been true to the trust He left us?
Do we seek to do our best?
If in our hearts there is naught condemns us,
We shall have a glorious rest.
4
Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching,
In His glory they shall share;
If He shall come at the dawn or midnight,
Will He find us watching there?
How do we answer these questions? Yes, the world shall hear of Him again?
John Franklin Tamakloe