Sermon Snippet – Right Responses to the Reality of the Rapture – Part II
INTRODUCTION – Jesus is coming back for His own. “Of that day and hour knoweth no man” (Matthew 24:36a), but He will keep all of His promises, including what we call the Rapture (from a Latin word meaning “caught up”). Last week we considered five right responses to the reality of the Rapture – thinking about heaven often, worshiping with other believers, trusting the Word of God, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, and comforting the grieving. Let us continue this study today.
1. WE ARE TO INCREASE IN LOVE
I Thessalonians 3:12-13 exhorts, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” The connection between “love” and “holiness” is a distinctive of the Christian faith: love that seeks the best for others is a reflection of the holy standard established by our Savior God, demonstrated most clearly at the Cross. As a practical matter, we know that we have a limited time to show love, perhaps considerably more limited than we anticipate right now. As I often suggest, let us start with those closest to us. We can find ways daily to give evidence of this genuine love.
2. WE ARE TO AVOID A CRITICAL SPIRIT
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (I Corinthians 4:5). We have limited knowledge; let us not pretentiously pretend otherwise. Assuming the worst of someone else is one of the worst things any of us can do. Think of how the Pharisees treated Jesus; which side do we want to be on? Of course, we do not want to be apologists for bad behavior or enablers of sin. However, a rush to judgment is a fall into worldliness, inconsistent with our expectation of the Lord’s return.
3. WE ARE TO SEEK GOOD WORKS
“An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” (Matthew 12:39a). We are to be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14). The word “zealous” indicates an enthusiasm, an active seeking out of opportunities to do “good works.” Sometimes we struggle to help certain people. What do we do? Pray. Sincere prayer is itself a good work, and it also leads us into God’s goodness and into His good way. “I being in the way, the LORD led me” (Genesis 24:27c).
4. WE ARE TO ENDURE SUFFERING
I Peter 1:7 tells us “that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Real life includes suffering; real life also includes the Rapture. Our struggles are temporary (“for a season” – verse 6); our salvation is eternal (“that fadeth not away” – verse 4). Logically, this sin-cursed world cannot be a perfect place for us; we need to learn to endure suffering and to yearn for an end to it. The Rapture of the Church will provide exactly what we need.
5. WE ARE TO DEVELOP PATIENCE
Practical James, the half brother of Jesus, writes, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (5:8). Patience implies waiting. “Nigh” tells us that the Lord’s return could occur at any moment. Each day that passes without “the coming of the Lord,” though, necessitates learning to wait – really to trust.
CONCLUSION – Do we trust Jesus to come back at just the right time? Let us remember that He came at the perfect time to die on the Cross for our sins (Galatians 4:4-6). When He does return, may we be found faithful – increasing in love, avoiding a critical spirit, seeking good works, enduring suffering, developing patience.