Welcoming Jesus back

We've all said it: "Don't worry, it's not the end of the world!"  Popular media - movies, novels - depict the end of the world as we know it as an ominous, frightening event.  We are curious about Christ's return, but mostly we are fearful. And so, when John McArthur, Chuck Swindoll, and David Jeremiah preach a gospel that says that we Christians will be snatched out of this world when that day of terror arrives, we are ready to embrace the rapture as gospel.  The world may go to hell, but God is going to rescue us from disaster in the nick of time. 

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul says that we are going to meet the Lord in the air. The word “meet” here is a technical term referring to a custom in Paul’s day. It’s a custom whereby a reception party would be sent out to meet a visiting dignitary and then escort that person on the final part of their trip into the city.  

Of course, this is not a foreign concept to us.  It’s like going to the airport to welcome home your son or daughter who has been overseas for several months.  Oh, they could get a cab, we could greet them when they get to the house.  What’s a few more hours.  But what kind of a welcome would that be?  We go to the airport.  And rather than wait at the curb, we even park the car; so what if airport parking is expensive.  And we position ourselves at arrivals, watching the board to see if the plane has landed.  And then we fasten our eyes on the door through which he will come.  

This is the way we will "meet Jesus in the air" when he returns.  And when we returns, rather than the annihilation of our world, he will make all things news - a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21). "Encourage one another with these words; encourage one another and build each other up" (I Thess 4:18, 5:11). Join us for worship on Sunday, March 9 at 10 a.m.