Every year on Thanksgiving morning in New York City
there is a tradition that thrills young and old
alike. Early in the morning, warm or cold, rain or
shine, thousands line the city streets trying to get
the best spots. They wait for hours, which seem like
an eternity to many. And then it happens. It starts
out with the whine of sirens, but what follows is
magnificent. The streets for the next couple of
hours are filled with the sounds of marching bands
and the spectacles of brightly colored marvelous
floats and gigantic balloons floating in the air.
Yet, this is just the beginning. It is what is at
the end that everyone has come to see. It is the
arrival of the final float, on which sits a sleigh
being pulled by eight reindeer and loaded with
presents. Still, this is not what everyone has come
for. It is the one who is in the sleigh that brings
all the excitement. The jolly one himself who brings
hope and joy into every child’s imaginations, and
those of many adults as well. It is the annual
return of Santa Claus that sets everything in motion
for the holiday shopping season.
While, the yearly return of Santa is a thrilling
occurrence to be sure, this morning I am going to
talk about an even greater return that his. The
world has been waiting for 2,000 years for this
return, but it will be well worth it. It is the
return of Christ
Let’s consider here this morning two things in regard
to the second coming of Christ
I. Facts Of His Coming
A. It has been promised
We can sometimes be skeptical about promises
Because we’ve seen them broken often
Because we’ve broken them often
But, God always keeps His promises
1. He doesn’t forget them
2. He doesn’t ignore them
3. He doesn’t replace them with other things
He said He was coming again and you know, He is!!!
B. It will happen soon
1. Day as a thousand years
2. He is waiting for more to repent
3. He will come unexpectedly
. C. It will be glorious
1. Not secretly
Every eye will see
a. We will see God face to face
In all of His glory
b. We will see the scars of our sin
2. Not quietly
First coming was rather quiet
Other than for the shepherds in the fields
The trumpet will sound
D. It will bring judgement to all
Not the most pleasant of thoughts
But the truest
He is not just coming to get us, but to judge us
for what we have done on earth
Whether we accepted Christ or not
Whether we lived lives of holiness as His children
are called to do
1. Those dead
Our dearly departed loved ones
Possibly us
2. Those living
At whatever time it is when Christ returns
II. Preparations To Make
A. Make sure you are ready
Have you ever heard the story of Jim and Jane’s
first date? - She was expecting him to show up.
She was dressed up and waiting patiently.
However, by the time he was an hour late, she
figured she had been stood up. So, she took off
her makeup, put on her pajamas, gathered all
the junk food in the pantry and sat down to
watch tv with the dog.
As her favorite show was just coming on, the
doorbell rang. It was her date. He stared at
her wide eyed: "I’m two hours late, and you’re
still not ready?"
Personally to meet Him
1. Give your heart to Christ
In total surrender
2. Live in holiness
By the power of the Holy Spirit
B. Make sure your friends are ready
And family
Loved ones in general
At least making them aware of how to be ready
The decision to be ready is up to them
It’s time we get serious about sharing our faith
Our friends and family need it
CONCLUSION
This morning, I want you to know that Christ is
returning. He will be back very soon, quite possibly
in your lifetime. Maybe even today, we just don’t
know.
Are you watching the clouds in wonderful anticipation
of His glorious appearing?
Are you waiting expectantly for Him to come back onto
the scene?
Or are you wandering in the spiritual desert, hoping He
holds off until you can get to the place where you
commit yourself fully to Him?
If that is you, this morning I call you to stop your
wandering and allow Christ to totally transform you
into the saint who will not fear His return
He can, if you will only surrender to Him in Godly
sorrow and repentance
It doesn’t matter in what way you’ve failed Him, He is
willing to forgive and cleanse and give you fresh
hope that will never disappoint
