“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:” (Hebrews 9:24)
Jesus Christ entered into heaven itself. He has both descended and ascended and will descend again. In other words, he came once; he returned to heaven and he’s coming back. O, no! Not another thought on the second coming of Christ. If you read your Bible faithfully, you will face that subject many times in the course of a year. As a matter of fact, the second coming of Jesus Christ is one of the key doctrines in the Bible. Thank the Lord that he came the first time to make an atonement for our sins, but “unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28)
His first appearing was as an innocent babe, born in a stable, laid in a manger. He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him. (Isaiah 53) The next time he appears, there will be no hiding from his presence. “Every knee shall bow,and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-9) Are you ready? Are your sins purged by the precious blood of the lamb? Has your knee bowed to him already. Has your tongue confessed to God that the Lord Jesus Christ is your personal, perfect Saviour?
Hebrews 9:27 says, “ And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Your appointment is made, and only the Lord knows the date and time of it. He’ll call your name one day, and you will be called in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. ARE YOU READY? Your heart could stop at any instant, and you could stand before the God of the universe to give account of what you have done with Jesus Christ. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even as many as believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
How do you stand before the holy and righteous God? Saved? Forgiven? Holy? A Son?
Jesus Christ entered into the presence of God in heaven for you and I. He will take you into heaven with himself, or you WILL NOT be going. You need HIS righteousness, for “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags before the Lord.” (Isaiah 64:6) Paul, in Philippians 3 said that he counted his own righteousness but dung. ALL our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. (coated with excrement, if you believe Paul.)
So, as we approach either the day of our appointment with death, or the rapture of church age believers, keep your eyes looking for the appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, and as you look, keep pressing on.
Brother Keith
