How many shopping days to Christmas?  Perhaps like me you are tired of that question and the constant reminders.  But with each day that passes, Christmas is getting nearer of course.

In the same way each day passing brings us nearer to the time when Jesus Christ will come again. Christmas is a time when people claim to remember the birth of Christ, though in fact no-one really knows what time of the year he was born.  What Jesus actually asked was that men and women should remember his death, by breaking bread and drinking wine until he comes again.

Now isn’t it just typical of our world that people try to remember his birth although Jesus never asked us to do that . He commanded us to remember his death and only a few people ever do.  He promised to come again in person, but not many people believe his promise and hardly anyone is waiting for him to return.

Yet without his coming a second time the traditional Christmas promise cannot be fulfilled.  “Peace on earth, goodwill towards men” was the angelic message at the birth of Jesus Christ, but it’s fulfilment can only be realised by the personal return of King Jesus to complete the work that he was born to do.

But when will Jesus return? no-one knows the exact time, but the Lord Jesus told his disciples that there would be certain signs that would indicate that his return was imminent.  He spoke of unprecedented distress amongst the nations, and of men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after what was to happen on the earth.  In the gospel of Luke, chapter 21, Jesus urged us to watchful for these things and to be ready for his return.

The Bible is the only book that can give us help and guidance in how to prepare our lives in accord with God’s commandments. If we try to follow his words and obey his commandments, then we can be sure that whenever Jesus returns, he will fulfil his promise to those who follow after him and in God’s grace allow us a place in his kingdom.

Thank you for taking the time to read this meditation - if it has made you think please consider coming along to one our bible talks on a sunday - you can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome.