Waiting for the return of Christ

Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” (Acts 1:11 NASB)

 In numerous places in the Old and New Testament, it is prophesied that Jesus Christ will one day return. Are we anxiously waiting for His return?

Hachiko, called Hachi, was a dog owned by a Japanese professor in the last century. Hachi would walk to the train station with the professor daily to catch his train to work. At 3 PM, Hachi would return to the station and wait for his master’s return to walk home together. One day, the professor did not return as he had died at work. The gardener took Hachi in, but the dog kept his same routine. At 3 PM, he returned to the station to wait for his master. This lasted for almost ten years until Hachi died himself.

At first, he was a nuisance at the station, but then they realized what was happening. Word spread, and Hachi became a national symbol of a loyal dog. Later, they erected a statue at the train station representing undying loyalty.

If we expect family or friends for a holiday visit, are we not anxiously looking out the window or listening for the doorbell in anticipation of their arrival? We do this because we know they are coming. Should it be any different with the return of Christ? If you know you are getting a visitor, are you not trying to clean up a bit, either yourself or your house? If we believe that Christ is coming, should we not motivated to clean up our spiritual house?

Like Hachi, who patiently waited for his master, we should wait for ours—the Lord Jesus. And if He tarries, another generation will be raised up to faithfully wait, based on what they have seen in us. Then, one day, when least expected, the trumpet will sound, and in the twinkling of an eye, Christ will appear, and we will all meet Him in the air.

As the songwriter wrote, “The King is coming, I just heard the trumpet sounding, and now I see His face.” It will be worth the wait.

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

— Ken Barnes worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. His missionary work has taken him to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine. He holds a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. kenbarnes737@ gmail. com