The Blessed Hope

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for "the blessed hope"—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..." Titus 2:11-13 (NIV)

Jesus is coming back to earth to set up His kingdom. This was the longing, the passion, the hope of the early Christians. Just before His crucifixion, His disciples asked Him, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24:3) Jesus had prepared them to look for His return and they wanted to know the details! In the Epistles, the churches are continually reminded how they should live in light of Christ's return. The Christians of the first century lived as if He could return at any moment, and eagerly desired to see it!

This is the "blessed hope"--Christ's return to rule and reign over His kingdom. What was once the most eagerly looked-for event in the Church is barely mentioned today. That is shameful. Not only are we to expect Christ's return and look for it--we are to "live ready" as one author put it. That means turning our back on the world and all that it offers, and living godly lives while we wait.