“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35
In the fifty-fifth chapter of Isaiah, we read the following concerning the “word” of the Lord: “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (v.11) Isaiah’s words, those of the Lord Himself, mirror perfectly those spoken by the Lord Jesus over seven hundred years later. What is the Lord saying here but that His word spoken so long ago before His physical coming at Bethlehem and then as He ministered to all concerned before His crucifixion, carries with it today the same power, meaning, and promise of realization, regardless of the centuries, circumstances, or conflicts. His words are as eternal as He is, for they are the very extension of His Life in power, revealing Himself by the truths He declares, so that men might truly believe in Him for salvation, and for all. So, why are these passages so very important when facing the truth, reality, even the certainty of His coming, again not only in that He came to Bethlehem so long ago, but that He is coming in a different way, for a different purpose, although all for His glory. To Bethlehem He came, in accordance with His word to the prophet Micah, “…for out of thee (Bethlehem) shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel.” (Matt. 2:6) Even wicked Herod of Jesus’ day, and at the time of His birth, sought know where “…Christ should be born.” All the chief priests, and scribes that Herod gathered together believed the same thing, that Christ should be born in Bethlehem of Judea. How is that the word of the Lord could be so clear, and specific, the confirmation of it coming from the lips of “wise men from the east,” (Matt. 2:1) and yet only a chosen few would recognize Christ’s coming, being born in a stable, hidden from those in the courts of Herod, and the assemblies of the religious men of His day? The answer lies in God’s original, wondrous wisdom and graciousness to all men, working in the humblest way, to reveal His glory. God would fulfill His word perfectly, but it would be hidden for a time from the eyes of those who were not waiting for the Messiah. A promise had been given by God, and God would fulfill it in His way, time, and for His unique glory.
What then of Christ’s “second” coming? The disciples would put the question to the Lord Jesus in this way: “Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3) Though the understanding of the disciples was still incomplete concerning the event of Christ’s coming, and the effects of it, with regard to God’s purpose and timetable for the earth, yet, their hearts were earnest. Jesus would take them as far as they could come at that time, providing them with truths concerning His coming, but not telling them all, for they were certainly not at that time able to receive it all. The purpose of Him telling them, and it being written down in holy writ for following generations to read, was to reveal that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit were, and are, the only true and living God, who alone can speak to create worlds, and specifically bring all that He declares to pass. There was another reason for Christ’s teaching on His coming, and it was to bring the disciples to the point, and attitude of daily waiting on Him to return. For the believer today, on this side of the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, there is nothing, no one, and no pre-condition that hinders Christ’s return in the clouds at any moment, to take to Himself all who belong to Him by redemption. He is ever-present, and ever-coming.
Dear Father, Strengthen our waiting hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.