#DailyDevotion Jesus Is Returning Soon. Come Lord Jesus
Rev 22:12-20 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (14) Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (15) Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (16) “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (17) The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (18) I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, (19) and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (20) He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
In the beginning of Revelation God says, Rev 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Jesus also says something similar there, Rev 1:17 “Fear not, I am the first and the last,…” Now Jesus closes out Revelation with the words of the Lord God, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” So if you didn’t get it in chapter one you should get it now, Jesus and the Lord God are One Lord, One God.
We have received his warning. He is coming soon and his recompense with him. As it is written, Act 10:42 “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.”, 2Ti 4:1 “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:” And 1Pe 4:5 “but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” Certainly, those who have rejected the gracious gift of God in Christ Jesus will get what they deserve and will receive their due. The problem is most people think they are good people. They think God is an accountant. They think he is going to measure their good deeds against their bad and they think they have more good than bad. But the Lord God is not like that. This is a zero sum game. If you are supposed to do good anyway, any evil you have done cannot be made up for in good works. You are either perfect or you are not. A lot of good people are going to be shocked on Judgment Day.
But blessed are they who have washed their robes, i.e. they have repented of their evil deeds and have been baptized into Christ through the sacrament of baptism. Such ones who have put their faith in Jesus and his salvific work for them on the cross, who believe his blood is the atoning sacrifice for their sin, they shall have the right to eat from the tree of life. Those persons who persisted in their evil deeds, examples above, and did not repent and believe but rather choose to be judged based on their works will be cast out.
Jesus is offering to all the water of life without price as it is written, Isa 55:1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Jesus is coming soon. Repent and believe the good news!
Heavenly Father, your Son ascended to your right hand and is returning in the same fashion he has departed from us. Grant us faith and repentance that on the day of his revelation, we be found washed in his blood and be able to partake of the tree of life and the water of life without cost. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.