They will sing before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. (Ps. 96:13)
THE EXCITEMENT GROWS as we sit in our living room with an eye out the picture window, waiting for the car to turn in the driveway. The kids are coming! They have driven a thousand miles to visit us for the holidays and they called to say they were getting close. We can hardly wait. Then one of us sees them: “Here they come!” Excitement turns to joy as we go outside to receive them. We are together again.
As exciting as it is to know that loved ones are coming, it is more exciting to know that Jesus is on His way. He has let us know He is getting close and it won’t be long before He gets here. The One who came to our world as a baby and grew up to be our Savior, is coming again—not to suffer for our sin but to serve as the judge of the world. He will not be a dying lamb but the living Lord.
If you are innocent, standing before a judge is nothing to fear. Facing the Judge can be a good thing, since He is righteous, fair, and faithful. He knows the heart of each person and He knows who belongs to Him. The Judge is prepared to bring judgment against the guilty and release the innocent from the oppression, penalty, power, and presence of sin. What a day that will be!
“Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). Look up! Here He comes!
Do not fear His return, but be prepared to rejoice in His arrival.
Ken Heer has been a pastor and church leader for fifty-two years and lives in Brooksville, Florida, with his wife, Nancy. Ken is the author of Ancient Fire (WPH).
