{"id":7822,"date":"2011-11-26T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-11-26T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=7822"},"modified":"2013-05-31T18:38:01","modified_gmt":"2013-06-01T02:38:01","slug":"jesus-is-returning-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/jesus-is-returning-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus is Returning Today!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Jesus<\/p>\n

No, I’m not pulling a “Harold Camping<\/a>.” Though I do believe that Jesus will return to earth literally and physically at some time in the future, I am NOT saying that today is the day.<\/p>\n

But I am saying that Jesus is returning today. And tomorrow. And the next day. And every day from now until He actually returns.<\/p>\n

Confused yet? I am saying that Jesus returns daily until He actually returns.<\/p>\n

The Daily Return of Jesus?<\/h2>\n

I think that as Christians we have often taught and thought about what Scripture says concerning the future return of Jesus Christ, while ignoring and neglecting what Scripture says concerning the present and daily return of Jesus Christ. If you didn’t know that such an idea is taught in Scripture, then you have proved my point. Most people don’t know it, which is why most people don’t live for it.<\/p>\n

Yet the idea of the daily return of Jesus Christ is quite prevalent in Scripture. Jesus talked about it in Acts 1 before He ascended into heaven. Paul talks about in several of His letters as does Peter, James, and John.<\/p>\n

\"LovingDuring His three years of earthly ministry, Jesus served others by healing the sick, providing for the poor, loving the outcast, teaching the masses, feeding the hungry, delivering the captives, eating with sinners, partying with prostitutes, and in general, showing people what it looks like for God to be ruling and reigning on earth.<\/p>\n

And then, after Jesus died and rose again from the dead, He basically told His followers:<\/p>\n

You are my witnesses, my ambassadors to the world. The things you have heard my say? You now say similar things to the world. The things you have seen me do? You now do similar things, or even greater things. The people you have seen me hang out with? You now hang out with them.<\/p>\n

As you say these things, and do these things, and hang out with these people, know that I am there with you, in you and through you, saying these things and doing these things and loving these people all over again.<\/p>\n

If I stay, I am only one person. But if I go, I can send my Spirit into each one of you, so that I can multiply myself in each one of you, and in you, be the voice of God, the touch of God, and the love of God to all people.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many people today are hoping for change. Hoping for corruption to end. Hoping for greed to cease. Hoping for equality, mercy, freedom, and justice. And a large segment of people who hope for these things believe that such things will not happen until Jesus Christ returns.<\/p>\n

Such a view is right, but it is also wrong.<\/p>\n

It is true that such things will not be universally practiced upon the earth until Jesus Christ physically returns to rule and reign over the entire earth. But this does not mean that we, as representatives of Jesus on earth, cannot begin to practice equality, mercy, freedom, and justice right now.<\/p>\n

We must not wait for governments to enact the change, or presidents and congressman to make laws about it, or bank presidents and company CEOs to suddenly change course. If we wait for that, we will truly be waiting until return of Christ. No, we must get out there and put into practice NOW the things we long for, wait for, look for, and hope for.<\/p>\n

We must be Jesus to the world.<\/p>\n

You and I are Jesus to the World<\/h2>\n

\"TheWe are Jesus Christ to the world, the Body of Christ that is physically present on earth, being the hands and feet and voice of Jesus to a world that without light and without hope.<\/p>\n

So this Christmas season, as we remember the first coming of Jesus Christ, and as we look forward to His Second Coming, also remember to look for ways on how Jesus Christ can return today, in and through you, to someone who needs His touch and His voice in their lives today.<\/p>\n

Until the day Jesus returns, He returns today in you.<\/p>\n

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This post is part of the Advent Synchroblog<\/a>. More links are on their way, but here is the initial list:<\/p>\n