Music to Our Ears

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Wednesday, July 31, 2013

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
- Revelation 22:20-21

The Bible refers to the second coming of Christ many times, from Genesis to Revelation. It is mentioned 1,800 times in the Old Testament and another 300 times in the New Testament. Statistically, one in every 25 Bible verses refers to the Second Coming. For every prophecy in the Bible about the first coming of Jesus, there are eight prophecies about the second coming of Jesus. One message is clear in Scripture: Christ will come back again to this earth.

As C. H. Spurgeon said, "The sound of His approach should be as music to our ears."

I think our very reaction to the Lord's return is a good barometer of where we are spiritually. If you are right with God, then you will look forward to the return of Jesus Christ. But if you are not right with God, then you will dread the return of Jesus.

I love it when my grandkids are excited to see me. They run up to me and grab hold of my legs. They look forward to my arrival (or at least they act like they do.) Why are they so happy to see me? Because I never discipline them. That is not my job. I am there to give them candy and buy them toys and have fun with them. I let their parents deal with the other stuff.

That is how we should feel when we think of the return of Christ. John writes about it in Revelation 22:20: "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' "

John responds, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

That is how every believer ought to respond when they hear that Christ is returning: "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" It is a good thing to say.