When I hear cries like “End Injustice!” “End Trafficking!” and “End Racism!” on protest signs or social media posts, a couple thoughts come to mind. The first is: Yes! I want the world cleared of these injustices. My second thought is ironic: These cries both ask for too much and too little.
They ask for too much because sinful humanity will never fully eradicate sin this side of heaven. They ask for too little because when Christ returns, He will end injustice, trafficking, racism, but won’t stop there—He will end all suffering, evil, and mankind’s greatest enemy, death.
Let me suggest a far more comprehensive cry for God’s people: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). This cry, penned by the apostle John, closes the Bible and responds to Jesus’ promise to return soon (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). It’s a prayer that expresses our blessed hope, the bodily return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to reign over and restore His broken creation (Titus 2:13). With so much wrong in the world, praying “Come, Lord Jesus!” looks in faith to the only One who can make it all right.
The prayer “Come, Lord Jesus!” involves at least four strands.
End All Suffering and Evil!
When Jesus returns, He will put an end to every type of evil, sin, and injustice. From the great sin of mass murder to the lesser one of coveting, sin will forever be eradicated along with all suffering caused by sin.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
God will remove the curse of sin from the world and restore all the goodness of His creation. John the apostle writes in his epistle, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
Judge Your Enemies!
Jesus won’t just bring evil to an end, He will bring evildoers to an end as well. All who rebelled against our righteous Judge, Jesus Christ, on this earth will face His righteous judgment. There will finally be perfect justice for everyone who has suffered abuse, slander, murder, and every other evil.
Not only will He destroy the works of the devil, but He will throw the devil and his demons into the lake of fire for everlasting punishment (Revelation 20:10). The prophecy of a Messiah coming to smash the head of the serpent will come to ultimate fulfillment (see Genesis 3:15).
While some scoff at praying for the judgment of our enemies since Christ calls us to love our enemies and pray for them (Matthew 5:44), praying for judgment for those who don’t repent is nothing other than asking God to keep His promises. It’s entrusting ultimate justice into the trustworthy hands of the only righteous Judge instead of taking revenge ourselves (Romans 12:19).
Save Your People!
All throughout the Bible story we see God’s glory on display when He judges His enemies and saves His people. Consider the Exodus story when the plagues tormented unbelieving Egypt while God shielded His people Israel.
During His first coming, Jesus Christ took the judgment we deserve on Himself on the cross so that we could be saved. When He returns, the dead in Christ will be raised to everlasting life and will receive their resurrected bodies.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'” (Revelation 21:3)
Usher in the Blessings of Heaven!
When Christ returns, we will enjoy life as it was meant to be in the new heavens and new earth. We will never again experience sin, tears, pain, or death. We will enjoy all of the blessings of creation with none of the curse. We will enjoy God’s perfect love and presence as He makes everything new. He will fulfill every longing of ours in ways beyond our wildest imagination.
“No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
The End (Goal) of Prayer
“Come, Lord Jesus!” is both the end of prayer and the end goal of prayer. It is the end of prayer because when Jesus comes, we won’t need prayer. Faith will turn to sight. We will enjoy God’s perfect presence forever and ever.
It is the end goal of prayer because it perfectly fulfills the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). When Christ returns, His name will be praised forever and ever (Revelation 11:5). His Kingdom will come in perfection and totality. He will do His perfect will “on earth as it is in heaven” since heaven will be united to earth. He will provide for our daily needs perfectly, including forgiveness and liberation from temptation and evil forever.
Let the prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus!” become your heart’s cry. Pray these three glorious words when your heart aches at the bad diagnoses, natural disasters, sin struggles, church hurt, political raging, and every other problem we face. And take heart. One day Jesus will come, and as the hymn says, what a glorious day that will be!