Does it seem like Jesus is not coming back? It has been over 2000 years since he went to heaven. So how do we know for sure? We know because the Bible tells us.
Lets look at some verses that back this up:
JAS 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. 9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
2PE 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
These last two verses tell us two things. One, Jesus return is not far away. Two, it may seem like a long time to us, but on God's time table it is not very long. The longer he waits, the more people have a chance to receive Jesus as their savior.
2PE 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
MT 24:36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
MT 24:42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
These last three passages tell us that no one will know when exactly Jesus is coming, but we should be on the look out for him.
MT 24:45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, `My master is staying away a long time,' 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The last passage is one that so many fall into. Since Jesus has been gone for so long we start thinking that we have time to do what we want and worry about it later. But just like with the servant, it could catch up with us.
The following is another example:
MT 25:1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 25:9 " `No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you. 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
This is another trap we can fall into, we can believe Jesus is coming, but not get ourselves ready for him to come back (we have lamps, but no oil). That is as bad as not believing Jesus is coming back. There are a lot of passages that talk about the return of Jesus. There are a lot of warnings, that we shouldn't let it sneak up on us. There are warnings about getting ready, but then becoming complacent.
So what do we do?
We need to live at all times just like Jesus would be coming back tomorrow. I know it is hard to do sometime, but we don't want to be left standing there wishing we would have been ready.
