Watching for His Return
So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
- Hebrews 9:28
The defense attorney of a man who was being tried for murder thought he had an ingenious ploy for his closing arguments. He told the jurors, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you must find my client not guilty of murder. And if there is the slightest doubt in your minds that he is not the murderer, I have one final witness." The attorney paused and said, "The true murderer is about to walk through that door."
Every eye in the room looked toward the door. But no one walked in. The lawyer said to the jury, "You see, ladies and gentlemen, there is doubt in your minds. Otherwise, you would not have looked toward the door. I ask you to find my client innocent."
The jury retired to deliberate, and five hours later, they returned with a guilty verdict. The attorney was beside himself. He said, "I proved that if the jury had a doubt about my client's guilt, they could not find him guilty."
But the jury foreman, a wiser, older man, commented, "As everyone looked toward the door, I watched the defendant. He did not turn his eyes toward the door. He did not look toward the door, because he knew no one was coming through. He himself was the guilty one."
One day, the Lord Jesus Christ will return. And the Bible says, "To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Hebrews 9:28). Are you ready for that day? Are you ready for His return? He is coming for those who are watching and waiting.
Have you ever put your faith in Jesus Christ? Maybe you have religion. Maybe you have ritual. Maybe you have morality. But these will not get you to heaven. Only Jesus will.