Even So, Come, Lord Jesus

It was Christmas Eve, many years ago. My wife and I had been married only a couple of years. We were at her parents’ home, waiting the arrival of her sister’s fiancé so we could begin the family festivities. Something, I don’t remember what, had delayed him. He had promised he would be there, however, and we knew him to be a man of his word. Every second on the clock ticked by oh, so slowly. The outward signs of celebration - food, presents, decorations - all beckoned, yet still we waited. And waited. And waited.

This is the position of the church of Jesus Christ today. We are waiting for the arrival of our Lord. He has promised to return. All the signs of our celebration with Him are beckoning us. His Word. Our anticipated delight in being with Him. The songs we sing about His return. And yet we wait. And wait. And wait.

The last chapter of Revelation, indeed, the last chapter of the Bible, is filled with the anticipated joy of being with Jesus forever. In this final vision of John, God reveals the glorious scene of Heaven.

Significant in the New Jerusalem is the river of the water of life. It runs clear, like crystal. It flows down from the throne of the Lamb in the middle of the great street, the street we have already been told is paved with gold. Flanking the river grows the tree of life, providing a variety of fruit each month. It’s leaves, we are told, are for the healing of the nations. I am not certain exactly how that works, but, no matter. I’m looking forward to it anyway.

There will no longer be a curse. In all the long and violent history of planet earth, there has only been one time when the residents of earth - two of them, to be exact - lived in an uncursed world. For all the residents of earth except those two, life and the place where it must be lived have been cursed.

The curse was placed by God on the earth and its residents because of the intrusion of sin into the human experience. It is described in Genesis 3. The earth will yield weeds, but to have vegetables, people must plant, care for, and harvest crops. Hard work is part of the curse. Survival is possible only through hard work and changing the natural inclination of the cursed earth to be idle and unproductive.

It is not an accident that childbirth is called labor. It is hard work. The hard work of bearing a child and laboring to deliver it is part of the curse.

Even the animal kingdom is cursed. Animals live in dust, fight to survive, eat or are eaten. Cruelty, pain, suffering, disease, and finally death are all part of the curse of God on this planet and on all of its creatures. But no more. It is all gone. None of it exists in the New Jerusalem. None of it can exist there because the throne of God and of the Lamb, Jesus, are in the city. Where Jesus is, the curse is lifted.

The servants of Jesus will serve Him there, not as they do now with difficulties and challenges, not by a faith that cannot actually see the one who is being served. His servants will serve Him because they can see His face, and because His name is written on their foreheads. No night there. No lamps. No sun. No moon. God gives the only light that is necessary to illuminate the city constantly.

And then the best part. They will reign forever and ever. To be with Christ forever, to live and reign with Him forever, to be His servant forever, to see Him face to face forever, to worship Him forever, to walk with Him forever, to sing His praises forever, to hear His voice forever, to see the scars in His hands and feet forever. What greater glory can there be? What greater joy could the human heart know?

Oh, Lord Jesus, how long
Ere we shout the glad song?
Christ returneth. Hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Amen.
- H. L. Turner

Some have felt the concept of Jesus’ return is simply a romantic idea Christians have invented with no real basis in fact. Some have claimed it to be a hoax, a carefully thought out practical joke by early church leaders. Some have denounced the idea as just plain silly.

But an angel appeared to John at the close of the vision. “These words are true,” the angel said, “and worthy of trust.” The words came from the Lord God, who spoke through the prophets of old and who sent His angel to show His servants what is going to happen soon. When the choice is to believe the words of sceptics or to believe the words of God, I will choose the words of God every time.

It is also true that Jesus spoke of His return and of the place where His saints would spend eternity. “Lay up treasures in Heaven,” He said. “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place, I will come again that where I am you may be also.” I prefer to put my faith in what Jesus said than in what sceptics.

Jesus spoke to John in the vision. “I’m coming soon!” he said. “Keep the words I have spoken in this scroll.” John added his authority, an authority he had only because God chose to give it to him. “I, John, saw and heard these things.”

The words contained in the book of Revelation have a three-fold witness that attests to their accurateness and trustworthiness. John, Jesus and God. That convinces me.

It is Jesus who promised, “I am coming soon.” He is the one who is coming with His reward to give to everyone according to what they have done. That will be a blessing for some. It will be a curse for others.

Those whose robes are washed may enter the city. Outside are the bad guys. I am a bad guy, but my robes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. My sins are forgiven. I will enter the city, the New Jerusalem, not because of my righteousness, for I have none, but because of His.

There is still time. Jesus is still inviting you to come. The Holy Spirit invites you to come. The bride, the church of Jesus Christ invites you to come. I invite you to come. If you are thirsty, come. Eternal life is yours, but only through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star, is coming soon. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Oh, joy, oh, delight,
Should we go without dying,
No sickness, no sadness,
No dread, and no crying.
Caught up through the clouds
With our Lord into glory,
When Jesus receives His own.
- H. L. Turner

From Even So, Come, Lord Jesus, by Thomas M. Parsons. Click here for more information about this book.