t some time or other I think we’ve all been uncomfortable, maybe even frightened, by the thought of Christ’s return. I’m not ashamed to admit that for most of my life I felt that way. But I don’t feel that way anymore.
Thunderstorm Ahead
One summer evening the forecast called for thunderstorms. But my friend Linda asked if I would sing for a meeting at the church, where her nephew was doing the preaching. I agreed and drove the 16 or so miles to her house; then we drove together the additional 20 miles to the church.
Not surprisingly, I was blessed by the message and thankful that I had chosen to go. The meeting ended about a half hour before sundown, and as we walked to the car we noticed thunderclouds forming. The August air was hot and muggy, and we knew it was just a matter of time before we would be right in the middle of it. But to our amazement, the squall line stayed just ahead of us the entire way home.
I was relaxed and comfortable in the passenger seat of the car, in awe of my panoramic view. It was like watching the storm play out on a movie screen. The dark, billowing clouds were alive with activity. They churned and turned like a cauldron of boiling, muddy water.
Then it happened! All at once, right in the middle of this dark-gray canvas a clear, bright, magnificent light broke through. It poured out of a perfectly shaped rectangular opening.
I pointed out how strikingly odd the sky looked, observing that if an artist were to paint this scene, it would be hard for anyone to believe that it wasn’t a figment of someone’s artistic imagination. It was ominous and at the same time altogether glorious.
Ready, or Not
As I sat there taking it all in, the Lord’s coming seemed imminent. I could almost hear His voice and I thought: Could it be?
And you know what? I wanted it to be Him. I was overjoyed at the very idea. Yet at the same time I could hardly believe what I was thinking. I was all alone (figuratively). None of my family was around. I was in an unfamiliar place, completely caught off guard, yet I was ready. At that moment it was just He and I; He was all that mattered. I had no fear or sense of dread. Those heavenly beams that came spilling down over that riotous sky filled my soul with perfect peace. I felt as though I could say with confidence, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).
Logically, I can’t explain how I came to this epiphany. ?But I think I can explain it spiritually. Maybe I should have begun by telling you that during the previous year I had been spending more time in prayer and Bible study. I realize that sounds rather ordinary. Still, I wondered if that was the reason I was so at peace with the idea of Christ’s return.
I’m thankful I can say today that I’m not afraid anymore. The whole point of the Christian experience is seeing Jesus face to face. And I can’t do that until He returns.
Christians should look forward to Christ’s return with assurance. We should be able to say with the ancients, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation” (Isa. 25:9).
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Emily Felts Jones is a recording artist, songwriter, and speaker who writes from Goodlettsville, Tennessee. This article was published March 25, 2010.
