It’s a day we
all, both of the Christian, and none Christian faith have been waiting for,
like any special day of our life time. For our earthly special days, many of
which we might have honoured, but this day of the coming of the Promised king,
well-spoken of by great preachers, both past and present seems to have tarried.
Warranting many anxious souls to for obvious reasons, mythicize the likelihood
of such a coming, 2nd Peter 3:4 and saying “where is the promise of his coming? For, from
the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of the creation.”
As spoken of by Christ in Matthew 16:28, “most certainly I
tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death, until
they see the son of man coming in his kingdom”
This distinctly
marks the coming of the Lord Jesus into two separate occurrences, the specific and the general coming. The
term “specific” considered denotatively implies narrowing an occurrence or a
scenario to a limited part of a whole. In the context of the discussion, it is
a delimitation of the coming of the king to an individual, who is but part of
the general world’s population, but some obviously would not taste death; they
are appointed for the general coming of the Lord God as
captured by Matthew 16:28. The general
coming, explained in the context of Matthew 16:28, exemplifies the souls or
the world’s population who will be alive to coming of the king.
If the expected,
or unexpected happens today that our assignment on earth comes to an end as
deserving of us, or abruptly by death, then the individual in question has
witness his specific coming of the
Lord. Therefore, how are we as Christians living each passing day? Do we live it
as the moment of trial that it is, by making a worthy investment which would
guarantee us a place in heaven, or, as others would say, “let’s drink and eat
for we know not what tomorrow brings”. The one considered as being conscious of
the specific coming of Christ is he, who lives every day Christ likely like there is no tomorrow.
Life, a trial to
be accounted for one day is short. Death would herald such a moment of
accountability to our creator. Hebrews 9:27. “Inasmuch as it is appointed for
man to die once, and after this, judgement.” Life, a fleeting phenomenon, presents the human race with a barrage
of contingencies which cannot always be survived, no matter the insurance cover
in place, and if we aren’t able to survive his specific coming, let’s not
forget, we have lived in a period after his death, therefore, no second chance
for correction of our wronging.
Revelation 14:13- I heard the voice from
heaven saying, “Write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes” says the spirit, “that they may rest from their labours; for their works
follow with them.”
The underlined word “from now on” is
an affirmation of a popular belief that, Christ as gracious as he is, wanting
all to be in his kingdom, extended his ministry to even the land of the dead,
preaching to and redeeming the dead who hitherto, knew him not. This obviously
cannot be the case in our time, a period after which he has died to atone for
our sins. This period like none in history has marked a great deal of the knowledge of Christ being spread across
the nook and cranny of our globe, and an excuse of not getting a glimpse of who
he Christ is, is certainly no ground to escape the judgement.
A critical characteristic
of the specific coming is this, it is an
individual affair. It neither premised on the leadership style
(Charismatic, orthodox, roman catholic, Pentecostal…etc.) of a church, family
nor an entity. Seriously, it neither on
the modalities of a generation
(Hebrews 13:8), or a year group as it is
in the case of assessing the performance of fleeting college situations. A
year group might have recorded a hundred percentage pass, but what matters is your
“individual final take home to your
parents”. Do not forget, even in making it to your colleges and
universities; all earthly establishments, It is your individual performance in
hand that counts. “Bribe might be an
alternative; but for heaven gate, no bribe.”
The
General Coming
Luke 9:27, but I tell you the truth: there are some of
those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see the
kingdom of God
Matthew 24:30, and then the sign of the son of Man
will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they
will see the son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great
glory.
The above
scripture readings lead us to the aspect that discusses the King’s general
coming. Critically, the book of Hebrew relevant the belief that, some
fortunately will not be raptured by death as is the case in the specific coming
of Christ, but will live to behold his general coming.
Hebrews 9:28, so Christ also, having been offered once to
bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are
eagerly waiting for him for salvation. , though general, because it marks
the end of the world, it can only be survived base on a perfect and trustworthy
account given of oneself.
Matthew 24:40-41, then two men will be in the field:
one will be taken and one will be left; 41: two women grinding at the mill, one
will be taken and one will be left.
The term
“general coming” defines the rapture as accounted by Matthew 24:30. It is a time where man’s existence on earth
comes to an end and must be accounted for. It is a simile of the biblical account
of the time Of Noah. Matthew 24: 37, “as
the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the son of Man.”
HOW DO WE SURVIVE THESE COMINGS?
The specific
coming; as well as the general coming, all require of us to be like a servant
waiting for the unannounced coming of his master. Luke 12: 37, blessed
are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most
certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and
will come and serve them.
A good that can
be done today, deserves no procrastination; for tomorrow belongs not to us. Luke 12:19, I will tell my soul, “Soul, you
have many goods laid up for many
years…” emphasis on many
years. Your good health this morning, might deceive you into thinking
tomorrow is yours, but the night might fail you. Therefore, it will be wise of
us to see each day, an opportunity to giving ourselves a restful eternity of peace. To survive such a coming; the best
insurance cover is, relentlessness in service.
We have to
constantly give our lives the needed review that it needs. Check the scheme
that directs our doings to match that of God and his approved ways of living.
In so doing; we would fault our faults and, best them for a righteous living.
The way to heaven
is one; know it. This way is Jesus Christ. John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the father, except through me”.
We have to live
the will of the father. Matthew 7: 21-23, not every who say to me, “Lord,
Lord”, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my
father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, “Lord, Lord,
didn’t we prophesy in your name… Then I will tell them, “I never knew you.
Depart from me, you who work iniquity.”
Your God given
talent is not a guarantee; they are like entitlements to which you owe a
responsibility. He has freely bestowed them onto thee; using them as a
proponent or an opponent is a choice; but you will one day be accountable. We
should not only desire in making inroads in our various field of endeavour; but
equally desire to have our names written in the book of life.
Your status in
life matters not. Whether you are poor or rich is either no guarantee.
Remember, Abraham one of the richest servants of God in history made it.
Lazarus, the poor fellow as identified in one of the parables of Christ did
make it to heaven. Where do you find yourself?
…and many other
biblically inscribed ways of living… in so doing, we shall be worthy of the
eternal citation which reads, “Well done.
Good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. Enter into
the joy of the Lord”
Final words,
“watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your lord comes”-Matthew
24:42. The Lord will appear one day: Like it, or not. You may witness his coming specifically; but
if you happen to escape this…The general coming certainly you wouldn’t escape.
The
writer, Felix Akaho Junior is a student of The Ghana Institute of Journalism
And
the Current President of the Campus Christian Family (CCF-GIJ Chapter)
E-mail:
dzidulajunior@gmail.com
All scripture citations courtesy: Bible Offline.
Version 3.0.8
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