The Champion is coming!

July 11, 2016. I woke up to find my Facebook flooded with red and green. Portugal had won their first Euro cup the day before and the fans were celebrating big. I watched some of the highlights of the games and felt proud of my favorite soccer team. They had done great! Curious I checked the news for photos and videos of the celebrations. I was delighted watching the team arrive in Lisbon and the thousands of people singing and shouting for joy as the new champions arrived home. The day was packed with festivities, including a stop by the presidential palace, and many opportunities to sing the national anthem throughout the country. One could feel the joy that an entire nation was feeling. You see, this is the first big championship the Portuguese team has won. The Euro cup began in 1960 and even though Portugal played in several semi-finals and finals, this is the first time they won. They never gave up, trained hard, and finally won. And they won big!

As I was watching the many celebrations, the thousands of voices singing together, I couldn’t help but imagine how it will be when the biggest celebration of all times finally takes place. You see, one day, the Champion of all champions will come to earth to take His children home. The Portuguese team won a beautiful trophy for all their hard work, but Jesus won eternal life for all of us. Can you imagine the celebration when we finally see Him coming? And He’s not coming on an airplane, large boat, or decorated bus. He’s coming in the clouds! He will bring tens of thousands of His angels with Him, and will come in the glory of His Father. The whole world will witness His coming and trumpets will fill the universe with an incredible sound! It will be the event of the events. Can you imagine what God’s children will do when they realize that their beloved and much wanted best Friend is finally here? Just thinking about it makes me smile ear to ear. Oh the celebration! The dead in Christ will rise, we will be reunited with our loved ones, and we will finally meet our Lord face to face. The whole world will be shouting for joy, praising the King of kings. I think the celebration will be such that we will shake the earth out of orbit!

That day is coming and is coming very soon. Sometimes we think that Jesus is taking too long to come, but we can’t lose heart. His promises are sure. His love for us is so great that knowing we would be tempted to feel discouraged by His seemingly delay, He told us ahead of time that He is coming even if it feels like it’s taking too long. Just like the Portuguese soccer team never gave up the dream of winning the Euro cup after all these years, we too cannot give up the dream and assurance of seeing Jesus face to face. Even if we have to go through the sleep of death first, His promises are sure. In His infinite love for us, He’s not going to let anyone miss out on His coming and the celebrations that will take place. It’s going to be amazing!

Hold on to your faith. Hold on to God’s promises. Be strong, courageous, and faithful. Fulfill your mission and keep your eyes on the prize. The Champion is coming!

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."

I Thessalonians 4:16

"At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory."

Mark 13:26

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:8,9