by David Brenneman
"Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
Luke 24:10, Matthew 24:44, Jesus says to be ready for His return.
Luke 12:45 "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.".
For at least 20 years of nothing but the teachings of Jesus Christ given to the Disciples and the OldTestament, ALL the new Disciples from the beginning of the Church onward were taught to make yourself ready. Jesus taught on many occasions of the need to be ready for we know not when He will appear.
Those who are not or will not WILL be caught unaware when that day arrives and they've nothing to show for the life in Christ they were to have had.
If there is going to be a waiting line at the Behma seat these people likely will be very distraught and nervous. There may not even be a waiting line. In His sovereign omnipotence Jesus may see all the Church at the same time. No time to prepare anything that people think that they will say that they believe will matter.
Paul's exhortation to run the race set before us with endurance...persistence...with purpose...gives no quarter to laziness or anything like that.
We should live lives expecting.
Expecting visitors. Expecting situations that will potentially point people to Jesus. Expecting situations where we are given life lessons to grow in Christ. Expecting situations where people see the life of Jesus Christ in us and in turn glorify our Father in Heaven.
They should very much see our expectation of Jesus returning.
It is fully honoring to God when we are living in expectation rather than not.
Paul counted all as loss.
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:7-11.
Do you view this present hour of your life as though Jesus could be coming back for you? Do you instead have your mind everywhere else?
My Grandfather on my Mom's side passed away while reading his Bible. What a way to go! From reading the Word to being face-to-face with the Word. My Grandfather wanted to be a preacher but never was able to reach that point in his life.
My whole ministry here in this blog is to either point people to Jesus for salvation or point them back to Jesus.
In living my physical life I want to help people by showing them Jesus in my life. I have long since began considering that my aspersions in life aren't really worth pursuing, even though they're still there, in view of living the life that God desires for me.
What about you? How prepared are you to be face-to-face with your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ?
How much value do you put on being found approved by Him?
How are your priorities? Is there signs in your life of a true dedication to a life in Christ?
Are you approaching each day as if today were THAT day? The Disciples turned Apostles learned that and taught that for over 20 years and we find it throughout the New Testament as being taught to the Churches.
Would you be able to stand before Jesus knowing that you gave your best to the Master?
Are you living like you're ready to meet Jesus? Do you long for that Heavenly place that's your true home?
If not...start right here right now. Jesus taught it, therefore we should obey in it.
Each day we are still here we should give of our best to the Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
What will your life show? Will when your works are tested by the fire of His truth result in nothing or very little to give back to Him for all He did for you?
I have given the real world example of someone I know who was taught the hard way about this. Was a morning not unlike all others. Her husband was getting up to get them more coffee and in an instant he fell to the floor dead.
Just last night I heard a similar story. We have no clue, will get no warning, of when we will step into eternity....but we WILL know that we WERE warned to be ready for it.
Recall the old hymn "Give of Your Best to the Master, give of the strength of your youth..."
Tomorrow may never come...and each day we have is a gift from God. Each breath that the wicked breath is mercy in action. We are to live lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
Be ready for you know not when your Master will come...
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
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