There is so much going on in this crazy world, and the one thing that has persistently been on my mind and in my heart is this; Jesus is coming soon!
I feel like shouting from the rooftops, sounding the alarm for people to get ready! One song says it like this, “Call back the sinner, wake up the saint…Jesus is coming soon!”
I’m concerned that the church is no longer watching for the coming of Jesus. I see friends leaving this precious truth behind, saints choosing to walk a precarious line between the church and the world, and many who call themselves Christians now claiming that there is no second coming, no heaven, and no hell.
Peter warned that these scoffers would arise and told us that we should be looking for God’s return.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-14
Mark 13:35-37 tells us to, “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
The writers of the New Testament lived and preached like they expected Jesus to return for the church at any time. Paul spent a great deal of time preaching that the church should be careful to live righteously because the coming of the Lord was near. This belief impacted every part of his life.
What if we all started living like Jesus was coming back at any moment?
How would our priorities change?
What would we do differently?
Would we really be concerned with whether something our Pastor preached was a heaven or hell issue?
Would we ask if we really had to do something to be saved?
Or, would we gladly do all that Jesus asks of us and then some?
Would we continue to keep silent about this precious hope of salvation?
Would we be too embarrassed to share the Good News with our friends and even strangers?
Or, would we boldly tell the world about the Gospel and share our testimonies?
Would we be quite as concerned with “keeping up with Jones’”?
Would we be materialistic and concerned with our image?
Or, would we give all we have for the sake of Christ, not caring what others might think or say about us?
If we knew Jesus was coming tomorrow, how would we live today?
Jesus shared the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. Five of them were wise. They waited with plenty of oil; ready for the moment the bridegroom came.
The other five were foolish and not prepared. There was no oil in their lamps. When the time came for the marriage, they weren’t even there.
At the end of the parable Jesus tells us in verse 13 to, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Too many are living like the foolish women these days. But, now more than ever we should be watching and ready for His return. We need to keep our lamps full of oil and be living like He could split the sky and sound the trumpet at any time.
It may be tonight, it may be tomorrow, it may be next week, month, or year.
I pray that like the song says, the church can sing “Like a bride waiting for her groom, we’ll be a church ready for You. Every heart longing for our King, we sing, even so come, Lord Jesus, come!”
Jesus is coming soon! Let’s live like it!