To read in the news that Jesus is returning this month ends up being no news at all to anyone paying attention to the Bible or past claims. But the unhappy reality is that most will go on living even more apathetically to Jesus than ever before.

This is sad because the credible promise of Jesus to return brings with it great significance for the entire human race, even the misguided loons who boast in saying they know when He is coming. Remember that Jesus Himself said no one knows (Matthew 24:36). The importance of the return of Jesus is multifaceted. But here are two great benefits to keep in mind.

Encouragement

If there is one feature characterizing biblical promises of the return of Jesus, it is encouragement. Unbelievers are encouraged to repent and trust in Jesus lest they face just condemnation from Him, the very one appointed by the Father to judge (Psalm 2, Acts 17:31).

Believers are encouraged to press on in life even if it is through difficulty given that rest will come with the return of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). This is why 1 Thessalonians teaches that we should "encourage one another" with the reality that we will be with Jesus for good when He returns (1 Thessalonians 4:8). Life is hard for so many reasons and in so many ways, but in Christ, we find hope (read confidence) that transcends.

Instead of constructing charts about the specific timing of Christ’s return (something He cautioned against remember), I suggest that we are more likely to honor the Lord by charting a course for our lives that keeps His unexpected future return in view.

This is far more likely to promote devotion, dependence and hopefulness. It seems wise that so many historic church confessions avoid detailing specifics regarding the timing of Christ’s return and simply stress the importance of His sure coming.

Transformation

Jesus does not ask us to pretend or to live in denial when it comes to the painful challenges we face in this life. After all, we are living our lives in a broken world marked by the suffering and death due to sin.

Some have tried to ignore such realities, but all attempts stop sooner or later. But this is precisely why believers are to eagerly anticipate the return of Christ. For it is at that time that ultimate transformation is experienced.

If you have trusted in Jesus as your savior you have not only trusted in the one who guarantees your peace with God (no small thing!), you have trusted in the resurrected one who guarantees your bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). This, therefore, means that at the return of Jesus when you see Jesus, you will be made like him (1 John 3:2).

As sure as he was raised bodily, you will be raised bodily, and this is why the Bible speaks now of your glorification being complete even though in your personal experience it is still future. Likewise, you are said to be healed because of the past work of Jesus (Isaiah 53), yet you await the experiencing of it at His return when you see Him and are forever transformed.

This is why I like to remind myself and others when facing health concerns both great and small that whether healing comes or not, it is sure to come with the coming of Christ. This is why our ultimate confidence for transformation must be in Him.

Jesus will also be the one to transform the entire world, and this will happen when He returns. This will mean that our desire for truth and justice will finally be met and will, in fact, exceed our less than perfect desires. For he will rule with perfect justice (Psalm 97:2; 2 Peter 3:13) and will vindicate the righteous once and for all (Psalm 26:1).

Such a vision of what will happen is to remind us of at least two important things.

First, we expectantly await the one and only judge who will reign in perfect righteousness and avoid taking matters into our own hands.

Second, ultimate transformation of the world will not come by our efforts, but will only come by the work of Jesus at His return. In addition, the Apostle Peter informs us that the present world will first be condemned and destroyed before it will be made new (2 Peter 3:10-13).

This is to strike fear in the unbelieving, and foster devotion to Christ in the believing for there is no condemnation for those who are trusting in Christ (Romans 8:1). To be united to Christ by faith is to, therefore, be able to say with all other believers "Come Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20), the One who promised to come "soon" (v.20).