Introduction
The church of the New Testament passionately desires the return of Christ. “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Rev 22:17). Eagerness for the end of all things is also a preoccupation of Paul, who can say, “…there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”(2 Tim 4:8). Peter agrees, “What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Pet 3:11- 12).
Throughout church history outpourings of the Spirit have been accompanied by a renewed expectation of the return of Christ. Why then the absence of such intense desire in the services, prayer meetings and conferences of the church in Australia?
Where is Your Treasure?
A basic answer is that we are materialistic. Jesus warned us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19- 21).
As part of a materialistic and sensuous culture, our minds are focused on earthly prosperity. “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”(Rev 3:17) We have seen the development of a great deal of “Christian lifestyle” teaching in the last few decades – God wants us to have the best of everything, including possessions, NOW.
We do not share the apostolic view of inheritance. “He has caused us to be born again …to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet 1:3- 4). It seems we do not want Jesus to reign over us (Luke 19:14). This points to a deep crisis concerning the very nature of God as a Father and his gospel (Rom 15:16).
Returning to the Father
Jesus is coming back so that the sovereign rule of the Father may be restored.
“When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”(1 Cor 15:28)
In Jesus thinking, heaven is constituted by the presence of the Father. “No one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:6) “‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17) What Jesus brings with him when he returns is the unmitigated presence of the Father. Much of the church seems to be moving away from the knowledge of the Father and so struggles to understand the return of the Son.
Renewing our Longing
There are two keys to inflaming a passion for Jesus to return. The first is to notice that it is always the Father who initiated the atoning sacrifice of Christ. “God so loved the world…” (John 3:16), “God put forward (Christ) as a propitiation by his blood” (Rom 3:25), “God was in Christ reconciling the world” (2 Cor 5:19). This means that the Father is most passionate about taking away judgement. He is sending Jesus again to finish the work of removing all condemnation (John 3:17).
Secondly, the gift of the Spirit flows from the Father. “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) (See also Luke 11:13; Acts 1:4;2:33.)
Only when the fear of a judgemental God has been removed and the Spirit has been received in power will the church spontaneously petition the Father that the Son return. Until such a time, we will remain in disobedience to his express command “And let the one who hears say, “Come.”’ (Rev 22:17). Until then, we dare not say, ‘ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!’ (Rev 22:20).