And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.”
1 Thessalonians 1:10 NLT Are you looking for the second coming of the Lord Jesus? We live from day to day trying to make it through the day and face the next. Yes, life must be lived one day at a time. The problem is this: we lose our perspective and our priorities get out of place. Situations and circumstances capture our focus and we drift away into the cares of life rather than keeping our eyes on the Lord. We go to church, have our little devotional, and feel as though we have done our duty. All the while, we aren't concentrating on the reality that one of two things are going to happen: Christ will return or we will die. This is a sobering contemplation. Let me ask you something. Do you really believe that Jesus is coming again? We have heard this statement in our religious rhetoric but do we actually, and intentionally, believe it? Are we so wrapped up in our culture that we have dismissed it as simple rhetoric? Just like the believers of Thessalonica, we, too, must live looking for the coming of Jesus. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must live every day as though we may die or Christ will return. This doesn't mean that we bunker ourselves in a storm shelter or become a doomsday survivalist. In fact, we are told by Jesus to occupy until He returns (see Luke 19:13 KJV). There is work to be done. The lawn must be cut, the groceries have to be bought, the daily chores must be attended, and we must earn wages to live an honest, honorable life. In the midst of all of this, we must keep our central focus on the brevity of our lives, the purpose of them, and preparation for the ultimate event of human existence: The return of our matchless Lord Jesus. If we truly believe in Him, who He is, and what He has done, we will also believe that He's coming again. The next time He comes He will be riding the conquering white horse of victory (see Revelation 19:11-21). He will come to rule and reign. This is the "blessed hope" of the believer. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 KJV Is your hope in Him or is it in this world? May I remind you that this world is perishing. Don't get caught up in this world and forget who He is and who's you are. Live for Him and you will live ready either way. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44 KJV
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March 2020
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