Sermon Snippet – Right Responses to the Reality of the Rapture
INTRODUCTION – In the last two weeks, we have considered our heavenly destination and the resurrection body that each Christian will possess there, beginning our studies in Colossians 3:1-4. We return to this passage, especially verse 4: “When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” Jesus “shall appear” – what we call the Rapture (from a Latin word meaning “caught up”). We are taught repeatedly throughout the New Testament that the Savior will return for all Christians, that we are to look for His coming, and that His appearance could occur at any time. Let us contemplate a few reasonable and right responses to the blessed and Biblical teaching of the return of Christ for His Church.
1. WE ARE TO THINK ABOUT HEAVEN OFTEN
We studied this point in detail two weeks ago, setting our hearts (our “affection”) “on things above” (verse 2). Unwanted thoughts crowd in unbidden; we need to take decisive action to counteract this ongoing attack. Philippians 4:8 comes immediately to mind.
2. WE ARE TO WORSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS
Hebrews 10:25 compassionately commands, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching.” Times of worship focus us on the things that matter, including the Lord’s return. We see that we are not alone in our Biblical expectations, and we are encouraged to continue in the faith.
3. WE ARE TO TRUST THE WORD OF GOD
Paul writes in II Timothy 4:1-2, “I charge thee [Timothy] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” We must insist that our churches consistently and persistently present the Bible. “Doctrine” is not intimidating, nor is it boring. It is God speaking to us, establishing the essentials of the faith. We need to know what God expects of us.
4. WE ARE TO PARTAKE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
In his detailed discussion of the Communion service, Paul states, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come” (I Corinthians 11:26). I always include this verse as part of our Eucharist remembrance, as well as, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20c). It is quite possible that, somewhere in this world, a group of believers will be meeting and partaking of the Communion elements when Christ returns.
5. WE ARE TO COMFORT THE GRIEVING
The early Christians knew that the return of Jesus Christ was imminent, that it could happen at any moment. As decades passed and some Christians died, believers began to wonder if they understood the doctrine of the Savior’s return correctly. Paul addresses these concerns in I Thessalonians 4:13-17. He then makes this application: “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (verse 18). We suffer when a loved one dies; loss, separation, and sorrow are real. So too is the assurance that a Christian who has died is known and cherished by the Savior and that even billions of deaths cannot change the reality that Jesus is coming again.
CONCLUSION – These are just a few of the practical outworkings of a staunch and settled belief in the Biblical doctrine of the Lord’s return. First and foremost, of course, each one of us must trust in Jesus for the eternal salvation that He offers. If we are His through faith, then we have a certain expectation of His coming in the clouds for Christians. In the interim, He has expectations for us.