That Blessed Hope

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and
our Saviour Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13

Our headlines are filled with earthquakes, floods, wars, rumor of wars, nations
rising against nations, children rising against parents, and it goes on.

We are looking at global financial uncertainty, industries failing, and the value of
the dollar fading. And let’s not forget a deceitful government.

Where do we find hope in the face of our world crumbling and people making
false predictions about the end of the world and when Jesus is suppose to return?

Where is our peace when we don’t have a job, we’re losing our home, and our
children are hungry because we can’t buy food?

Where is our comfort when everything we own has washed away in the floods,
and thousands of lives are gone due to an earthquake that rocked the earth off it’s
axis and the tsunami that followed washed towns and communities out to sea?

Where is our joy when the bills are due, the truck’s is broke down and there just
isn’t enough money to pay for it all?

Where is our rest when great personal calamity hits a family leaving the ones left
with no income, no home and no one to help?

We can find our peace, comfort, joy, and rest in “that blessed hope.”

Not hope that our finances will change, because finances are always uncertain.

Nor do we find hope in our nation, family friends or jobs. Because nations rise
and fall, family members die or move on. Friends come and go and well… we
know the job market is precarious at best.

But we can, we can, find our hope in Christ Jesus.

Paul told Titus in his letter to him,

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and
glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” [Titus 2:11-13]
Now think about this with me; God knew before He created the heavens and the
earth that not only would man need a Savior to save him from his sins and restore
a right relationship between Himself and man; He also knew He would return a
second time to get His Bride, the Church, and bring her back to heaven with Him.

Through His prophets, in the Bible, He told us over and over again how our
Savior would be born of a virgin, in humble surroundings, He would live a sinless
life (our Perfect Lamb), He would be beaten and bruised, He would die on a cross,
and shed His blood for our sins (the Perfect Sacrifice). Then He would be buried
and raised on the third day. After that He would go and prepare a place for us, His
Bride.

In the New Testament, John 14:2-3, Jesus told the disciples,

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be
also.”

Therein lies our hope – The whole reason for Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, and
ascension – So He can prepare a place for us, return for us and we can live with
Him and worship our Father for all eternity.

God set the perfect time for Jesus to be born and to die. He said it would happen.
And it did. He also said He would return. If God has said something is going to
come to pass and we see that it has, then there is no reason to not believe that He
is going to return. He is not man that He can lie.

Now when the disciples asked Him when He was going to return, He told them
many things including to make sure no one deceived them (us), and that a lot of
different things would happen before He returned (Matthew 24: 3-51). He also
told them (us)

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13: 32)

He also said,

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”
(Mark 13:33)

So to those who are listening to others proclaim they know when Jesus is
returning, don’t be deceived. They do not know, only God knows and He ain’t
telling!

So what do we do?
We look to our blessed hope, Christ Jesus. He is going to return again, God said,
it, Jesus said it, not one time, but many times. Even the angels said He was going
to return again, while the disciples were watching Jesus ascend to heaven in the
clouds. (Acts 1:9-11)
So where do we find our joy? James tells us -

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3)

And our peace is found in Jesus…

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do
I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have
heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you…’” (John 14:27-
28a)

We will also find our rest in Him…

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

And we can take comfort and comfort one another with this…

“For the Lord Himself with descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will
rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the
Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-
18)

Oh people of the Lord, sing praises to His name! If that alone doesn’t make your
heart sing with joy, then I don’t know what will.

While we are awaiting our Lord’s return, we are to also be prepared. That doesn’t
mean we sell everything and find a spot to sit on and wait. We are to “deny[ing]
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in
the present age.” (Titus 2:12)

Just as Jesus went about doing His Father’s business (Luke 2:49), we are to do the
same. If God has called you to preach His word, then preach. If He has called you
to teach, teach. If you are called to be a housewife and mother, praise the Lord, be
one that glorifies His name. In all that you do, do it for the glory of God. (1
Corinthians 10:31)
But in all that you do, do it soberly, righteously and godly. What does it mean to
live soberly, righteously and godly? After studying I found a commentator who
gives, in what I think, the best explanation. This is from The New John Gill
Exposition of the Entire Bible
(http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/geb/view.cgi?
book=tit&chapter=002&verse=012)

Titus 2:12

we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present

world;
not, only "temperately", but wisely and prudently, as children of the
light, on whom, and into whom the Gospel has shined; and "righteously"
among men, giving to every man his due, and dealing with all according
to the rules of equity and justice; as being made new men, created unto
righteousness and true holiness; and as being dead to sin, through the
death of Christ, and so living unto righteousness, or in a righteous
manner; and as being justified by the righteousness of Christ, revealed in
the Gospel: and "godly"; in a godly manner, according to the Word of
God, and agreeably to the will of God; and in all godly exercises, both
public and private, and to the glory of God: and that as long as

in this present world:

which lies in wickedness, and in which there are so many strong
temptations to a contrary way of living. The Gospel then is no licentious
doctrine; it is according to godliness, and teaches and promotes it; it is an
holy faith, yea, a most holy faith; wherefore it is a vile slander to charge
it with leading to looseness of life and conversation.

So in other words, we are to live as though Christ Jesus will return any moment.
We are not to live ashamed of the gospel of Christ, nor in a manner that would
cause us to be ashamed to stand before our Lord and Master. If we have
surrendered to our Savior then He should be most important in all that we do, say,
and live. Our lives should be salt in the earth, the light of Christ in this dark
world, the sweet fragrance of the Rose of Sharon, drawing all unto Him.

How I weep, for my spirit yearns to see Him face to face, more each day. Yet, I
will and urge all who long to see Him, to do as James said,

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the
farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it
receives the early and later rain. You also be patient. Establish your heart, for the
coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:7-8)

We can take comfort in knowing our Lord returns soon. It may be today,
tomorrow or yet years from now. Only God knows. But we can know that He will
return. The Bible tells us it will happen, just as it told us of His birth, life, death,
resurrection and ascension.

So in these times of trials, in these times of uncertainty, let us continue to

“look[ing] for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen!