Do You Fear Jesus' Return?

Do You Fear Jesus’ Return?

I have heard several pastors speak longingly about how God walked through Eden in the cool of the day. One man of God asked rhetorically, “How do you think God’s footsteps sounded?” My gut response was, “Terrifying!” Why is it that one person longs for that, but it terrifies another? Let’s consider a familiar example to underscore this point.

Were you ever home without your parent(s) when you were younger? If they were both gone, what was your response when you heard the car pull into the driveway or the keys jingling in the door? Maybe you were with your mom and heard those familiar words, “Daddy’s almost home.” These memories likely trigger nostalgia for some and a trauma response for others. Why?

Jesus is coming back. Make no mistake about it. His return is definite, and His return is imminent. You may not finish this sentence before He returns. How does that make you feel?

The easy response is that it depends on what you’ve been doing. If Adam and Eve were just enjoying God’s creation and one another’s company, there would be fullness of joy as God drew near to them. Instead, sin caused separation between them and God. This separation brought its co-conspirators accusation, condemnation, guilt, and shame. Thus, Adam and Eve were probably filled with immense dread and sorrow.

If your chores and homework were finished and you were playing Scrabble with your little brother, you were probably happy that your parents were back home. However, if you were doing things you should not have been, you were probably filled with fear. What you have been doing certainly influences your response to God walking in Eden, your parents coming home, and Jesus coming back.

However, I think here is another factor: relationship. Maybe you did everything right while your parents were gone, but you still dreaded their return because you grew up in an abusive and dysfunctional home. Your poor relationship made you apprehensive of their return, regardless of your actions. Alternatively, maybe your parents’ unconditional love made them the first place you would run when you made a mistake. Ultimately, it is your relationship, not your actions, that determine your response.

Your enemy, the devil, understands this and tries to use your mistakes as a way to keep you away from God. Most of you have at some point felt unworthy of God’s love. The enemy will circulate these feelings to keep you out of God’s presence by making you dread fellowship and feel unworthy to pray or worship. Satan is an expert with the wedges of accusation, condemnation, guilt, and shame. For millennia, he has echoed accusations of already-forgiven sins to drive many out of God’s presence and kingdom. 

But consider this. Satan’s lie that your sin is too egregious for Jesus’ sacrifice is actually a lie about Jesus. The enemy is saying that Jesus’ perfect, eternal sacrifice was insufficient. Deep down, you know that isn’t true. Jesus’ blood has been, is, and will always be enough for even the worst of your sins. Because of this, your relationship with Him is your lifeline. Jesus paid for your sins, however atrocious they may be, so that you could come boldly into God’s presence. His love melts these wedges away. In Christ, there is no separation, there is no accusation, there is no condemnation, there is no guilt, and there is no shame. There is only grace, mercy, and love.

Do not let the enemy use his lies to manipulate your feelings any longer. If Jesus has forgiven you, then you do not need to cower in fear like Adam and Eve. Your relationship with Jesus means you can come right back into God’s presence without apprehension or dread. Your relationship with Him means you can boldly fellowship, pray, study, and worship, regardless of what is in your past. Your relationship with Him means you can eagerly anticipate His return, even if your life has not been perfect.

Jesus isn’t angry at you; He loves you. In fact, He’s really looking forward to seeing you when He returns. So the next time you hear “Jesus is coming back,” stir up your anticipation! Jesus is excited to see you, and you should be excited to see Him, too!