I’ve had many, but always return to Revelation 19:11-16.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
This verse describes who Jesus is and what my Savior has done, what He’s going to do, and how He wants me to respond to all of this:
Who He is: Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man, who left His perfect heavenly home to come live on this decaying and dying planet to serve humanity. He arrived as a man/God with a message, knowing He would be the Servant Sacrifice who gave His all for us. Christ conquered death—shattering Satan’s hold on His beloved children. Jesus is faithful. He is true. He is righteous. He is the Judge, and He will arrive the second time as the great I AM—THE KING—and mighty military leader, Who will avenge and defeat the world’s evil. No one and nothing can stop Him and He reminds the world by wearing a robe dipped in blood. He is the Word of God, who spoke into being all of creation—earth in perfection, as it will be again under His rule.
What He’s done: Jesus created, He healed, and raised the dead. Jesus taught, He justified, and gave His all. He served. He saved. Jesus befriended whores, tax collectors, and fishermen—He called them ‘friend’. On that horrible and wonderful cross, Jesus opened His arms to His beloved and gathered them to Him. And then He rose to life, conquering death once and for all.
What He’s going to do: At His second coming, Jesus will part the very fabric of the sky and ride the clouds to earth. He will show Himself in physical form, undeniably witnessed by person, and they will know Him for Who He is. His entry will not be ignored. Upon His arrival He will speak in a voice that will be heard by every ear, and the monstrous, evil world leaders and all of their armies will be destroyed in a bloodbath so severe angels will call upon carrion birds to feast upon their dead bodies. The world will know that He alone is KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. He always was, and always will be.
What He wants from me: To serve Him alone—to be His hands and feet until He returns in the twinkling of an eye. He asked me to follow the meek and humble Son of Man, Who is (granted!) much more inviting to a new believer than the power-filled Son of God depicted in Revelation, Who will rule the earth with an iron rod. None of this frightens me, as He desires me to be fearless, filled with His Holy Spirit, and knowing Him to be loving, kind, peaceful, joyous, equitable, understanding, compassionate, and protective. His beneficial attributes are too long to list. As my reward, during His Second Coming, I will ride behind Him on a white horse as one of His faithful servants. Amen!