Longing for Jesus's Return!

If you believe the Bible is true, then you also believe that Jesus will return one day to gather up His followers from all the corners of the earth. If you're like me, you're probably pretty excited about that event! Whenever I bring up the Rapture, as it is called, in discussions, I run into the following three types of Christians

• Those who are very excited and eagerly wait for His return
• Those who have an unhealthy obsession with it and tend to predict dates, sell all their belongings and travel to Jerusalem to wait for Him, etc 
• Those who don't want to think about it at all. It never crosses their mind and if it does, it doesn't excite them

I believe God wants us to have a healthy expectation of His return, along with an excitement, a longing for Him. All through the Epistles, Paul referred often to the return of Christ and told Christians to think on it and allow the expectation to bring them comfort and hope. But for those of us who are excited about Jesus's return, why are we excited?  Is it for selfish reasons? Because, let's face it, we're just plain tired of life and all it's struggles and we want some relief!  Or is it for the right reasons? Because we can't wait to see our Lord! Because we can't wait to fall into His arms, to sit at His feet, to hear Him talk and spend time with Him!

Imagine a husband who goes on a long journey away from home. Years and years go by and the wife misses him very much. She has children to care for and a business her husband left her to run, and she's tired and worn out. What if that husband returned and instead of being received with loving arms and showered with love, he finds a wife who is only happy to see him because finally she will have some help! 

Some Christians tell me I'm too obsessed with Jesus's return, that I think about it too much. As long as my motives are right, I have to disagree. Why? Because when I'm thinking about and longing for His return, my mind is on Him, my thoughts are on Heaven,  and I tend to worry less. I tend to lead a better live, sin less, and make fewer mistakes.

If then you have been raised with Christ, aim at and seek the rich, eternal treasures that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in the splendor of His glory.

 So kill (deaden,deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).  Colossians 3:1-5 Amp

When I keep my mind on Jesus, I become more like Him. And as I become more like Him, I can be about His business more and effect the world for Him. Longing for His return doesn't mean we

neglect the work He has called us to do. It just means that if we are truly excited about seeing Him soon, (with the right motives), we will make ourselves pure and ready for Him like a bride does for her Bridegroom, and we will be busy about His business in order to please Him when he comes.

So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.   NASB Hebrews 9:28