Eagerly Awaiting

Hebrews 9-Part 3
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment; so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, not to bear sin, to those who eagerly await Him, for salvation.     Hebrews 9:27-28  NAS


LET IT GLOW

I am looking forward to this weekend, eargerly awaiting the return of our granddaughter. She and her parents are spending a week's vacation in  Florida and a trip to Disney World and the beach. She will have so many new experiences to share and new words to use. I anticipate her bubbling over with excitement. Am I just as eargerly awaiting the return of Christ?

In this chapter, there are three "appearings" of Christ mentioned. Verse 24 says He now appears in heaven on our behalf. Verse 26 speaks of His former appearance on earth to bear sin. Then, in verse 28, His next appearing is in the future when our salvation is brought to its complete realization. (The Greek word used for the "appearings" are, however, three different words.) The last appearing is without sin in the same sense that He will not need to deal with sin again. (Liberty Bible Commentary, Hughes)

That time will be an exciting time when He appears in the clouds, hearing the trumpet sound. Am I ready?


LET IT GROW

Looing at verse 27, we see that we will all eventually die. This day is coming, it's inevitable. All men have died before us. Exceptions were Enoch and Eiljah of the Old Testament, New Testament saints who will be alive at Christ's return will never die, and Lazarus and others who have been raised from the dead and died twice. Every person gets one chance to prepare for God's judgment.
The author is showing a comparison with both verses. Just as it is with man, so it was with Christ. As man can only die once, so the man Christ could only die once as a sacrifice. His relation to humanity would be marred if He would have to die more than once. Beyond death there exists another reality. For man it is the reality of appearing for judgment; for Christ, it is the certainty of appearing with deliverance from condemnation unto them that look for Him. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

2 Corinthians 5:10 says For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Revelation 20 talks about the great white throne, the book of life, ...and they were judged every man according to their works. And whosever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Do we have loved ones that are not ready for this judgment, not knowing Christ as Savior yet? Can I help them get prepared for that day? The believer's will be judged, not our soul for salvation. That decision has been settled before our death.


LET IT GO

Eagerly await Jesus' appearing the second time.

Make it a reality that we will all apear before a holy God.

Help others prepare to meet the Lord.