by David Brenneman
"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:3-18.
A very much taught to all in the early Church is to be living lives in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ. "Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God".
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25.
In pretty much every book of the New Testament we can find something to stir up by way of reminder to live our lives in case today or even tonight were when Jesus would return.
As I was reading these last few days something else seemed to be connecting with these thoughts on the return of Jesus. John the Baptist stated that he must decrease and Jesus must increase. More of those thoughts we covered a short time ago concerning less of us in our lives and more of Jesus to be seen in us. The transformed life.
We indeed have a life ahead of us as long as we're breathing. Question is in who's eyes will it look or actually be considered successful? Ours or God's?
When, never 'if', we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him...who will be seen as the one glorified, Jesus or us?
If it's us...we're in trouble...because it will seriously diminish the crown of righteousness that we are to give back to Jesus for all He's done for us.
Daily, temptations arise, to draw us away from living a life representing Christ to this world.
Daily, we can be caught off guard, and a God provided moment to glorify Him is missed.
Daily, we can miss opportunities that the Spirit is bringing into our lives to bring us closer to Christ.
Remember: after we come to Christ for salvation the work being done in us is our sanctification. We are either going to be transformed or we're going to fight the transformation. We are either going to willingly grow in Christ or we will hinder that by living selfishly in our flesh.
Something that I am finding, after the drastic change in my life a year ago, is to learn to say no to things that I normally wasn't giving a second thought to.
There's never been a person who's saved, who's ever seen regret at pursuing a greater life in Christ over their own personal desires.
Never.
Are you satisfied with how you will look when you stand before Jesus?
Isn't there more you can be doing to let there be less of you and more of Jesus for yourself and the world to see?
Move away from evening television and move towards more dedicated time in God's Word.
Move away from other things and towards a more personal time in prayer with your Savior Jesus Christ.
Move with the Spirit more. Listening for His promptings rather than dismissing them.
Ask your Father in Heaven what it is He's wanting you to really be doing for Him then ask the Spirit, in Jesus's Name, to empower you to do it.
These are the things that will bring glory to God, in Christ Jesus, and not ourselves.
Jesus is returning.
Pursue a life in godliness in Christ Jesus that shows the world this promise is true and that you really believe it.
Live a life that glorifies Jesus and less of one that glorifies you.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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