by David Brenneman
"A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God." Isaiah 40:3.
We do well to keep in mind that the return of Jesus Christ is still imminent. We're supposed to live daily as if it were to be today. We know not when. No man does.
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." Matthew 23:42-44.
Had you known in advance, would you live your life any differently? My Dear Reader, you DO know in advance. What are you holding onto that you shouldn't be? What have you given importance to your life that you shouldn't be because those things are not honoring to God?
At any moment our lives can be called into account. Any individual who's breathed their last unexpectedly surely thought there would have been another to come.
We shouldn't be so consumed with the pursuit of individual joy that we neglect the work of the Spirit of God in us and in the world. We are only seeing the delay of the return of Jesus Christ because He’s not willing that any should perish but that all would come to Him and be saved. He isn't willing, but, do not take it lightly. He's isn't willing, but His Father set a specific day that enough is enough will signal that ending.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be." Matthew 24:36-39.
The warning is not to be taken fearfully, but for those in Christ Jesus, it should be in joyful expectation.
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." Matthew 24:42-44.
There's nothing to fear for those who are in Christ, who are indeed sealed by the Spirit of God. Our joy will be made complete. Our leaving this world for our true home occurs. The monkey of sin will be permanently off our backs. Harming our relationship with Jesus Christ no more.
We who are in Christ have no condemnation for sins against us.
Those who are not saved have the full brunt of condemnation awaiting them.
Those who are saved are written in the Lamb's book of Life. Those who are not are guaranteed a guilty verdict.
No amount of good done by anyone will equal the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a cross to pay for sins. A perfectly lived life would still be condemned because that person is still born in sin. We cannot be good enough, cannot live right enough, to satisfy the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ that is required to enter into His rest in Heaven.
What are you doing that you're not taking this alert seriously? Life, indeed, must go on and be lived but that attitude in which we live it must include God's perspective. Must include obedience to what He says is important.
Our world isn't progressing towards a man-made utopia. There's no paradise awaiting people on Earth because of our genius at solving world problems. As someone once said "Nobody gets out of the world alive.".
Are you being intentionally ignorant? Are you sticking your head in the sand? Hoping that you get to do in life what you want, hoping that the return of Jesus comes after your time on Earth is done?
Why be that way?
Why not embrace His truth?
Why not let go of the things that are honestly weighing you down?
In His example of the King and the talents, Jesus showed what waiting expectantly could be like.
I am more than happy to be considering that today might be that day. I am convinced, by being told by the Spirit, that the return would be in my lifetime. I am not setting dates, just stating the facts as I know them. Spreading the word of God to this world is heavily impressed upon me. God made this blog writing possible. Every day He has something for me to write, just as He said He would. Obedience doesn't need to be as complicated as we might make it seem.
What has the Spirit wanted of you? It might not even be what you'd ever thought of. 5 years ago I never thought once of writing like this. What might be your part in preparing people for the day of His appearing?
There is an Ending Coming...
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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