Why Jesus’ Return is the Best News You’ll Ever Hear (and What Golf has to do With It)

Growing up, I often heard the phrase, “Jesus is coming soon!”—with emphasis on the soon—and was told that my generation might witness the Lord coming from the skies to gather us to heaven. Many of the older preachers at the time were passionate and, let me be honest, sometimes aggressive in their sermons about the end of the world and the terrible events that would precede it.

I remember walking with my father on the golf course as a child, perhaps no more than ten years old. I didn’t play much (luckily for the other players!). Instead, I spent my time gazing at the sky, examining unusually shaped clouds, wondering if today might be the day the “Jesus Cloud” would appear. 

That moment has stuck with me because I was feeling terrified. Yes, I was scared of Jesus’ second coming.

The message of “Jesus is coming soon” had become more about fear than joy. The way it was taught made it feel more like a warning than a promise—focused on fear of the end-time events rather than the love, peace, and mercy of God. Instead of feeling joyful anticipation, I was left anxious, constantly wondering if I was ‘good enough’ to get past the hard times. 

In addition, various believers had theories about when Jesus would arrive, offering different calculations and predictions. Some even suggested I wouldn’t live to be 18 (I’m 40 now!). That fear stayed with me for years, making it difficult to embrace faith with joy. But over time, something changed.

Changing Tracks

As adults, there often comes a moment when we realize the need to rebuild our faith, deconstructing and reconstructing what we first heard in our childhood. This realization marks a turning point—where childhood false conceptions or perhaps fears give way to a deeper understanding of God’s love and grace. 

For me, this shift happened gradually. It wasn’t a single moment but rather a series of small awakenings—conversations with people who saw God differently, reading scripture with fresh eyes, and realizing that fear-based faith had never brought me true peace.

With age comes perspective—we can see beyond the personal agendas of childhood preachers and recognize that the “good advice” we received was often a reflection of generational trauma projected onto us. Many of the often-well-meaning people preaching those messages had likely grown up with the same fears and were simply passing them down. Realizing this helped me separate God’s truth from human fear.

I still believe that Jesus is coming soon—but my approach to living with this truth has drastically changed. Now, I embrace the idea: “Jesus loves you, and that makes His second coming awesome news.” Why? Because it’s actually very simple:

 1. Trust Jesus and Believe He Died for You

First and foremost—if you only take one thing from this article, let it be this. God loved you so much that He sent His only Son to die for you. But that’s not the end—Jesus rose again and now sits on the throne beside God, making us children of God. Staying true to this belief is the foundation of everything else I share here.

I used to think that trusting Jesus meant always feeling strong in my faith. But trust is not about never having doubts—it’s about holding onto Him even when we struggle. There were times in my life when I struggled to believe that God’s love was truly unconditional. But the more I leaned into His promises, the more I saw that He had been carrying me all along, and that no matter what the future holds He has promised He will always take care of me.

 2. Live in the Light of God’s Love

As someone raised in a Christian family, I never had a traditional conversion experience. I always knew about creation, the cross, and heaven. But knowing something isn’t the same as feeling it deep in your soul. 

When I was baptized, I truly believed I was making the right choice—though, perhaps, it was more out of fear than excitement. Yet, looking back, I see how vital that decision was for my journey. Building a real relationship with God and learning how to live meaningfully in these times took much longer.

Living in the light of God’s love means you have direct access to His peace, trust, and hope. We are safe in His arms, no matter what. Isn’t that amazing? Realizing this truth, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and joy thinking about Jesus second coming—a reminder that God’s love is not just a distant idea but something deeply present in my everyday life.

It is key to hold on to these blessings as we navigate life’s challenges. Yes, there will be struggles—but God will be there to help and protect (see Psalm 34:7). If we keep our focus on Jesus, we won’t waste time worrying about the next catastrophe that could precede His return. This mindset can also safeguard our mental health—we can only handle so much negativity before it overwhelms us and triggers a fight-or-flight response.

 3. Spread God’s Love and Do Good

As Christians, our mission is to spread God’s love and share the hope that Jesus is our personal friend and Savior. Our focus shouldn’t be on predicting the exact timing of His return, spreading fear-driven theories, or merging faith with political ideologies—that’s not our calling.

Instead, we should ask ourselves, “What should be my focus as a Christian living in the last days?” 

The answer is: Follow Jesus! Be so filled with His compassion, love, and hope that it overflows to everyone around you. 

As someone dealing with chronic illness, I understand that this can in sometimes feel exhausting. Some days, I barely have the energy to care for myself, let alone others. But I’ve found that even in my weakest moments, a kind word, a prayer, or a small act of generosity can be powerful. 

I’m not suggesting fake positivity. What matters most is our connection to Jesus and what this love makes us do. Our feelings and daily experiences may vary, but staying connected to Christ will sustain us even on the darkest days.

If we’re known for our love and helpfulness—not just toward those who look and speak like us, but to everyone—isn’t that what we’re truly called to do? Instead of proclaiming fear, let’s be a reflection of Jesus in a world that so desperately needs His peace.

Jesus Will Come for You Within the Next 120 Years

Here’s a simple truth: Each of us has about a century on this earth to live (see Genesis 6:3). 

If you were hoping for a longer timeline, I get it—but this reality is both sobering and comforting. Why? Because whether Jesus returns suddenly or when we reach the end of our earthly journey, within these 120 years, each of us will stand in His presence.

Do you see what this means? Jesus is coming soon— sooner than we often realize. The waiting isn’t about calculations, predictions, or fear-driven urgency. It’s about something much greater: building a relationship with Jesus. This truth shifts our focus from worrying about the uncertainties of life to resting in the certainty of His love.

So instead of fearing the unknown or anxiously anticipating pre-second-coming tragedies, I choose to live in joyful expectation. Whether I meet Jesus in the clouds or after my last breath (Daniel 12:2), I know one thing for sure—I am His.

And that is awesome news!

Images in this post: Shutterstock