For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 
Titus 2:11–14

Looking at this passage in some depth, we see how the grace of God changes our lives and focuses our attention on the future. Grace teaches us to be “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Yesterday, we considered a glimpse of the blessed hope. Today, we want to focus on what Paul calls “the glorious appearing.”

The blessed hope is connected to the gathering of the saints to the Lord Jesus. His glorious appearing, however, refers to the time when He returns with His saints. This is set before us in Revelation 19:11–16: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

This is the moment when the One who was “in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:10–11) will be openly acknowledged and will receive His rightful place.

At the end of Paul’s life, he could say:
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing”(2 Timothy 4:6–8).

Anchor For Today:
Do we long for Him to have His rightful place in this world?