Joy and Sorrow in Christ’s Return

Written by Warren |Posted on March 4, 2009 | Comments

Imagine that after so many years of praying for a child you realized that you or your wife is pregnant. Or imagine you just realized that you won millions of cash. All you need to do is pick them up the following day. How would you feel? You could pay all your debtors, secure your family’s future, go to Alaska and see the beauty of God’s creation, etc. Life couldn’t be more happier.

What if things went the way we didn’t expect or hope. Like the doctor tells you that you have cancer. Or your spouse just had an accident. Or your daughter was just raped by some stranger. Life couldn’t be get worse than this.

But what if, given that you have any one of the said situations, you knew that Christ will come this afternoon. How would you feel? Will any of those situation matter? Will you still look forward to the money you just won? Will you still look forward to the birth of your child? Will your cancer matter? Will the death of your spouse matter? Will any of them matter after you realized that Christ will come this afternoon?

If you think about it, if you knew Christ would come today, will anything matter? Would you still think of your future? Your children’s future? Your health? What do we care about the economic crisis? Why think of those when we have Christ to reign as king on earth? Nothing is sweeter than the second coming of Christ.

To many, when asked what would bring them their greatest joy, would respond either of the several following answers: “to be wealthy”, “to be healthy”, “to be famous”, “to be a celebrity”, “to be powerful”, “to travel the world”, “to change the world”, “to do all these”, etc. But would any of them or all of them combined matter on the return of Christ? What would you need the money for after Christ returned? What would you need from being famous or powerful? And what sense is there if you have accomplished much and yet you missed out on Christ’s return (Mark 8:36)?

How sad it is for people who think they will be gathered together with Christ on His return but only to be denied. In the end there will be two ultimates: ultimate joy and ultimate sorrow. For the Christian, he will experience the ultimate joy. For what better joy on earth do we have than to have Jesus with us forever. For the non-Christian, he will experience the ultimate sorrow. For he has been cut off from the ultimate joy for all eternity and no amount of money, material, prestige on earth gained mattered much when compared to Christ who is our ultimate joy.

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. ” Matthew 24:44

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. ” Matthew 25:13

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. ” Mar 13:32-33