His Return as King and Friend . . .OR . . . Does God Really Love Us Forever?

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope
June 28, 2008
Larry R Evans, D.Min.

Quiz for Reflection

[To get the most from the quiz read the passages in brackets and look for a thread of thought which may give more depth and understanding to the question being asked.]

1. The Old Testament atonement symbolism ended at the cross of Christ. [Lev.16:29-34; Dan. 8:13-26; Heb. 9:28] True or False?

2. The fear factor should not be used when describing the Second Coming of Christ. [Mt 25:31-34; 2 Thess 1:6-9; Jn 14:1-3] True or False?

3. What Jesus emphasized about His Coming depended on the group to whom He was speaking. [Jn 13:36-Jn 14:3; Mt 24:30-31; Rev 1:5-7 & 6:15-17] True or False?

4. As we see earthquakes and wars abounding we should not be alarmed. [Lk 12:14-21; Mt 24:3-8; Mk 13:5-8] True or False?

5. We can influence the timing of Christ’s Second Coming. [Mt 24:14; Rev 12:7-12] True or False?

6. The benefits of Christ’s First Coming are contingent on His Second Coming. [Gn 3:15; Micah 5:2; Lk 2:11; Jn 14:1-4] True or False?

Reflective Review

It’s no fun being separated from family and friends. When it happens reunions take on special significance. The time in between is hardest but memories from the past hold us spellbound as we focus on the next time we will be together. Separation whether it be by death or distance, from our Christian perspective, is temporary. Neither circumstance dampens our efforts to rejoin friends and loved ones. Heartaches and hardships may come but memories of family ties and friendships remain. Special times together, are not compromised by absence—in reality they strengthen our eagerness to rejoin our family and friends. The Message paraphrase of Romans 8:31-35 is Paul’s resounding anticipation which reinforce his determined efforts to be reunited with Jesus. Though not privileged like the disciples who walked many miles with Jesus, Paul’s encounter with Him on the Damascus Road was enough to know that Jesus was not only King but also Friend.

Rom 8:31 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

Rom 8:32 If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?

Rom 8:33 And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen?

Rom 8:34 Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us--who was raised to life for us!--is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.

Rom 8:35 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

Rom 8:36 They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

Rom 8:37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.

Rom 8:38 I'm absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow,

Rom 8:39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

We must remember that this is not a one-way friendship. It is a fact that God first loved us. He has been planning for this reunion for a long time! I am reminded of an imagined conversation between God and us . . .

“’Can anything make me stop loving you?’ God asks. ‘Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts. Behold the maker of sight and sound as he sneezes, coughs, and blows his nose. You wonder if I understand how you feel? Look unto the dancing eyes of the kid in Nazareth: that’s God walking to school. Ponder the toddler at Mary’s table; that’s God spilling his milk.

‘You wonder how long my love will last? Find you answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill. That’s me you see up there, your maker, your God, nail-stabbed and bleeding. Covered in spit and sin-soaked. That’s your sin I’m feeling. That’s your death I’m dying. That’s your resurrection I’m living. That’s how much I love you.” –Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace, pp. 179-180.

We conclude this quarter’s studies on Jesus with a single question: “How much do you love Him?”

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