“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20)

In this verse Jesus says, “Surely I come quickly.” The narrator who is John says, “Even, so come, Lord Jesus.” John was cast out on the Isle of Patmos. He must have been excited by the thought that Jesus might come quickly and deliver him.

When I read this verse I wondered what our response would be to Jesus’ saying, “Surely I come quickly.” Would our response be “even so come Lord Jesus,” or would our response be “even so come Lord Jesus but not so fast.”

We are to live our lives each day in a way that if Jesus came back we would not be ashamed at his coming. The Apostle Paul states this principle in Philippians 1:20-21. He writes, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

The Apostle Paul would agree with John and say “even so come Lord Jesus” because his life was magnifying Jesus. He would not be ashamed. Would we? Are we living in a way that brings honor to our Savior. If not we need to repent and begin to live correctly so we too will want Jesus to come quickly. “And now, little children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, not be ashamed before him at his coming” (I Jn. 2:28).

Another reason why we might not want Jesus to come back quickly is because our work is not finished. Most people die with the fire still in them. I’m not talking about the work that falls into the category of our own wills. Do we have our work finished for the Lord up to this point in time?

There are still things I can do tomorrow, but are we confident that we have done all our Savior has required of us up to today? The Apostle Paul is our example again, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Hence forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Lastly, we might not want Jesus to come quickly because we have loved ones not yet saved. Everyday that Jesus does not come back is another day that we can tell someone the good news of the Gospel. The Lord “is longsuffering toward usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Lord help us all who call You Savior to live in a way that we will not be ashamed at Your coming. Help us to live in a way each day that we can honestly say, “Even so come Lord Jesus.”

James Kearns is pastor of Baldknob Church in Kitts Hill