“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
This verse speaks of our future with the Lord Jesus. This lot is the destiny of the believer.
“When Christ who is our life appears”
The word “appears” means to manifest. Manifest is more than “appear.” The idea is to uncover, lay bare, or reveal. It means to cause to become visible — to make appear, to cause to be seen, to cause something to be fully known by revealing clearly and in some detail. When Jesus comes, He will be made known, made plain. He will be brought to light to Christians. A person appearing in a Halloween mask is not what they seem. When Christ comes in manifestation, he will demonstrate what He truly is. He will reveal His true character (John 3:21; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10,11; Eph 5:13).
Jesus will appear at the Rapture (1 Th. 4:16-18). Then He will be visibly manifest. God is moving toward a new era. Even though God is presently working toward this new era, it is invisible to this present age.
God wants us to make “known the knowledge about Him in every place like a sweet aroma” (2 Cor 2.14). Christ is the believer’s life: “I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). He is the principle and end of the Christian’s life. He lives in us by his Spirit, and we live to Him in all we do, “To me to live is Christ” (Php. 1:21). Christ will appear again. He is now hidden, but He will appear in all the grandeur of God’s glory.
Principle:
When Christ appears, God expects us to celebrate our life in Christ.
Application:
Do we look forward to Christ’s coming to take us to Himself? Should we not set our affections upon that world and live above this world? What is there here to make us fond of this age? A genuine Christian’s heart is drawn to eternity. Our Lord is there; our home and our wealth are there. Since our hope is there, we will be there forever.
The Rapture is the point when the believer will receive ultimate sanctification. Ultimate sanctification involves a new body, and a soul separated from sin or the capacity to sin.
The best is yet ahead for the Christian. Meanwhile, we should set our hearts on “things above.” We need to cultivate a taste for eternity and fellowship with God. We formulate that taste by the study of God’s Word. Many have lost their appetite for the Word of God. When that happens, spiritual disaster lies ahead.
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