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Waiting For The Appointment

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (NIVUK)

Each of us has an appointment to meet Jesus. When we see Him we will tell Him everything (2 Corinthians 5:10) and God's wrath will fall on all unrighteousness. But nobody is fully righteous (Psalm 14:3). That is why the anger of God against sin fell on Jesus, so that all who believe in Him will not suffer in the judgement but will have eternal life. So the appointment will either result in joy (for all who have trusted that Jesus' death was for them) or judgement (for all who have resisted the grace of Christ – Romans 2:8).
 
When Jesus comes again every believer will be completely and fully saved from the presence, power and the punishment of sin. He has promised that we shall totally escape His wrath because we trust that Christ's death is sufficient to pay for all our sins (2 Peter 1:4). His bodily return to earth will be the end of Satan's tempting power and the coercion of the world, which tries to squeeze us into its wicked mould (Romans 12:2). And we will have new bodies that will be unresponsive to evil. What a wonderful salvation appointment.
 
The death of the Lord Jesus enables God to forgive us fully without diminishing His justice in any way, when we repent of our sins (1 John 1:9). So we should have no fear about meeting the Lord, nor be anxious about our brother and sisters in Christ who have already died. When Jesus comes again He will gather all His people, from every time in history, who have trusted Him (Mark 13:27, John 8:56).
 
So let us actively encourage each other to think about, and get ready for, the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful topic to study in a workplace Christian Fellowship. Let us also speak about the appointment to our friends and colleagues who do not yet trust the Lord. Their appointment is already in His 'diary'; but will they be ready to meet Him with 'forgiven' and 'justified' written on them? Or will they face God's wrath alone? That is why we need to tell them now how they can be saved (www.crosscheck.org.uk).

Prayer 
God of time and eternity. Thank You for promising full salvation to all who are longing to meet Jesus. Forgive me for forgetting this important appointment, and living as though it does not matter. Help me to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to get ready for that day, as we encourage each other to trust and obey Your Word. And please give me the opportunities to explain the gospel to my friends and colleagues so that they may also get ready for their appointment with the Lord. In His Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams