The Book that Changed My life—The Herald of His Coming

“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

(Stop Press: On Tuesday morning, I woke Felistas up with the news that the counter on my blog had just crossed the 100,000 mark. I had hoped she would be as excited as I was and perhaps pour me a cup of coffee in congratulations but she did not. I guess many others with much more traffic visiting their blogs, like Tim Challies, would not find such news exciting. That is their traffic per day! But I must say that I have had my eyes on that counter for a few months now…waiting for the 100,000th visitor. So for me, that was a precious milestone. It took a little over 3 years to get there. Let us see how long it will take to reach 200,000. I am watching the counter, though not that anxiously any more).    

The next instalment of “The Book That Changed My Life” is from Barnabas Chiboboka. He is married to Grace and the Lord has entrusted into their care four biological children. He is a Chartered Accountant, but has also specialised in management studies. He fellowships at Kabwata Baptist Church, but is presently attached to a new church plant (Bonaventure Baptist Church) in the southern tip of Lusaka. He loves premarital counselling, and has counselled many young couples on the eve of their weddings. He also loves poetry and since 1987 has been compiling a collection that he hopes could be graduated into hymns! Well, let us hear about the book that changed his life…

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The imagery of the descent of Christ at his second coming, the authority, the power, and the glory that will surround his return, as described in the scriptures, made early imprints on my mind that will never be obliterated: That I should be invited to be part of this great ceremony is amazing and incredible—not for time, but for eternity. The imagery of his second coming still rings fresh melodies each earthly day. To be part of this grand occasion is something that cannot be imagined. Yet, it will come to pass as God has said.

It was a monthly magazine, and not necessarily a book that left indelible imprints on my mind. In my early years of seeking salvation (Grade 6-7), I subscribed to a number of Christian magazines, which I received regularly. One such magazine was THE HERALD OF HIS COMING published by the Gospel Revivals Inc. of Los Angeles. I was an avid reader of this magazine and one topic that I looked forward to reading in every issue was the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This topic really excited me even though I was not yet a Christian. I later understood why the imprints of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ were painted in indelible stains on my mind. God used this topic as the means to arrest and compel me to bend my knees to the King. The period of searching was between 1980 and 1981.

F.B Meyer wrote one such article published in March 1981. It was simply entitled “The Second Coming of Christ”. Another one was by Horatius Bonar and yet another was by R H Hudges. These two were published in 1980. They were entitled, “Are you looking and living for his coming?” and “Prepare for him”, respectively. In fact, peace was denied me for three years and the very prized topic haunted me because I realised I was not ready to meet him at his second coming. Thankfully, at the end of that period I found peace in believing in Jesus Christ as my Saviour and accepting his lordship over my life.

I now look forward to his return and agree to the statement of faith below for Gospel Revival Inc. in theory and in practice:

“We believe that Jesus, some days after His resurrection from the dead, ascended to God in heaven (Acts1:1-10; Eph. 1:15-23). We believe in the personal return of Jesus with power and great glory (Luke 21:27), and that His return is an event for saved people to look forward to with great expectation and with constant watchfulness and prayer (Luke 21:34-36; 1 John 3:2-3).  We believe that this same Jesus, which was taken up from the apostles into heaven, shall so come in like manner as they saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:1-11).”