When Jesus Returns

Would You rather listen than read? Listen here.

A Flashback To 4th Grade

Back when I was in the fourth grade, I had an extremely strict teacher. I liked her as a teacher, but I did not want to upset her. I knew there was a line, and I did not want to cross it. She had no qualms about pulling out that old wooden paddle and placing it in a strategic place for all to see.

This was back in the mid-eighties, and she always wore brightly colored flowy dresses with thick elastic belts that matched her dangle earring and flats. Her hair was short and dyed blonde to cover the grey. She always smelled of cigarettes and perfume.

Before school started each day, we would have to sit outside the classroom and wait for her to arrive. The fourth grade classes were outside, where we sat in the southeast Texas heat and humidity dripping in sweat and swatting mosquitos while we waited. We would hear the door open and everyone would shape up and sit straight as we watched her make her way down the outdoor hallway.

When The Teacher Wore Pants

Two days that year she came through that door not wearing her typical flowy dress, but pants. Fear struck through all of us and you could hear the murmurs of the other students saying, “Oh no, this is going to be a bad day.” Pants meant she was in a bad mood.

I am not sure how the rumors got started, but it was a known fact among the students of Jones Elementary that if this teacher wore pants, you better shape up or face serious consequences. No one ever wanted to have her catch you doing something you shouldn’t. She had a certain look that would make you shake in your shoes. Did you ever have a teacher like this?

As I have grown up, there are still things I would rather others not catch me doing. My dad’s best wisdom was to do nothing you did not want printed on the front page of the newspaper. I live a pretty conservative life by most standards and I have always said there are a few places I do not want to be found when Jesus returns. Just like I did not want to be caught by the teacher doing something naughty, I do not want Jesus to return while I am in New Orleans or Las Vegas. It will be nice if He returns while I am at church praising Him, right?

Questions Of Jesus’ Return

Matthew 24 talks a lot about what to expect when Jesus returns. The disciples had asked Him questions about the end times and Jesus answers each of these questions.

1. When will this happen? (answer Matthew 24:4-14)
2. What will be the sign of your coming? (answer Matthew 24:15-28)
3. When is the end of the age? (answer Matthew 24:30-31)

Two Commandments

After answering their questions, He reminds them that no one, not even He, knows the day or the time that He will return and calls us to be ready. He says the end will come suddenly like a flood, and we are to watch out. Jesus left us with two commands that He expects us to do in His absence.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19 NLT

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”

John 15:12 NLT

Parable Of The Talents

This is what Jesus should “catch” us doing when He returns. Matthew 25:14 gives the parable of the bags of gold, or we also call it the parable of the talents. A man gives three of his servants three different amounts of gold and asks them to keep it while he went on a journey. When he returned, two of the men had invested the money and made it into more, but one buried it so he would not lose it.

This parable is about the gifts and abilities God has given us and what we should do with them. He gave us all the same two commandments, but to each of us, He gave unique abilities. When He returns, He will want to see what we have done with these gifts.

Where Did We Invest Our Gifts?

Where did we invest our gifts? Did we take them and love others? Did we take them and go throughout the world sharing the gospel message? If Jesus were to return right now, what would He find you doing? Would He find you doing something that brings Him glory or would He find you consumed in the ways of the world and burying the gifts He gave you? We will be accountable for each action towards these commandments that we do and those we do not do.

A dear friend went to be with Jesus this morning. He was 32, had a beautiful wife, and three amazing kids under the age of eight. He fought Melanoma for five long years and the Lord took Him home this morning. I think I have experienced every emotion possible today. I have felt anger that God did not heal him. Grief, because I will miss seeing his smile and hearing his quirky jokes. My heart breaks for his wife and kids, and I have asked God over and over, Why?

Each time I start my questioning, I am taken into a special place with God where I see my friend walking to Jesus and the question comes over and over: “Isn’t this what we all want?” Our goal is to unite with our Savior. My friend’s life was brief and nothing in this makes sense in my human head, but I am reminded we have to be ready. Whether we know our end is near or we don’t, we have to live every moment like the next might be with Jesus.

So I ask again, “What do you want to be caught doing when Jesus returns?”