How are we ready and prepared for the Second Coming of Christ?
Can our neighbours, friends, co-workers, families and close family friends be fair to give a strong positive impression of our life on this Earth as we prepare for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming?
How would they bear witness about us if Jesus stopped by and asked them to testify about us? Can they “affirmatively affirm” our lifestyle, for instance, the other side of ours we don’t know?
Our behaviour; our morals; our humility; neighbourliness and our concern about the plight of others – love? How perfectly would they grade us? How about ourselves? This should be worrisome, but here is the thing. It’s God’s mercy.
By human effort alone, every person – Christian or non-Christian- has failed the test of perfect righteousness. That said, we take the consolation of the “failing Grade” as the book of Romans states: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” [Romans 3:23, ESV].
So as we wait for Jesus’ second coming, let us continue to honour our duty to send the Gospel to all peoples across all nations as instructed by our Lord and Saviour Jesus. This is a grade we should not fail while we live and wait for Christ’s Coming.
As Christians, whether we live or die, our expectation is to see Christ coming back for us – the bride of the Church. The ultimate goal is not to present a flawless resume, but to hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
The book of Hebrews states this expectancy. “As it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” [Hebrews 9:27-28, ESV].
Question … So while we wait for Christ coming, what is the duty of the Christian in the world? And those duties pivot on aligning our spirit with the divine spirit of what our Lord said to his disciples in Matthew 22: “Loving others is the first and greatest commandment.”
Accordingly, what did Jesus say in Matthew? “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.” [Matthew 22:37–39, ESV]
This commandment from the Lord Jesus forms the most important duty and the life of a Christian. So, loving the Lord God in every respect and loving others, regardless of who they are or where they come from, is our duty as Christians.
We must be bold and fearless to promote and defend our faith as a duty while we wait for the Second Coming of Christ.
We may not like people’s behaviour, but we don’t hate them. That behaviour allows us to draw them to Christ. We are not to yoke or compromise with their behaviour. We sow the seed and leave the rest with the Holy Spirit.
Consequently, in other circumstances, when arguing or enduring continuous abuse or blasphemy, the Scripture instructs us to redirect our energy toward people who are receptive.
You will face these circumstances, but your goal is to let the Word out. You do by no means hate them; you have given them your love. Let us look at the following few scriptures:
The book of Matthew states: “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” [Matthew 10:14, ESV]
This is what the book of Luke says, among others: “When you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.” [Luke 10:10–11, ESV ]
But it doesn’t only end here with the first and second greatest commandments. If we love Christ, we should send the gospel out to as many as we can reach among nations. This is the love Christ will be expecting from his bride: the Church.
It is our duty to spread the Gospel and make disciples for Christ if we love him in every respect. Send the word out to the lost souls. This is our duty; our task and our core assignment as we wait for the trumpet to call us to reunite with him.
Here again in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ instructs his disciples to spread his teachings to all nations: the Great Commission.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” [Matthew 28:19–20, ESV]
After Christ’s resurrection, he gave his disciples this commission (order): The Great Commission, and then ascended to heaven. This is a statement of Faith that comes by hearing the Word of God, and it is our duty as Christians to fulfill the order from Jesus Christ.
This is a duty Christ followers should act on to send the Word to as many as possible in the World. As far as we can go, the more people that can hear the Word and believe it as we prepare for the second Coming of Christ.
The question is: are we taking our duties seriously as Christians to win souls for the Lord, or are we busy preaching something else? We are off the track if that is not what we are doing as believers (evangelism and soul winning).
We need to shift gears if we are readying for Christ. It is not time to defer anything. The time is now. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life [Proverbs 13:12, ESV].
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. [Proverbs 11:30, ESV]. It is time we started spreading the Gospel to all souls.
As we wait, we should live with active faithfulness. We should live with spiritual watchfulness, and we should live with personal holiness, rather than passive waiting. In short, let us be serious as Christians to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Here Are Some Key Takeaways and Readiness of Our Core Duties as We Wait For Christ’s Second Coming:
We Should Cleanse Our Hearts and Pursue Righteousness: Let us confess our sins, turn away from unrighteousness, and go all-out for purity and ethical integrity.
Beloved, let the prospect of seeing and becoming like him shape our daily life and our choices; shape our character, and fix our hope on Jesus alone.
As we wait diligently, let us avoid idleness and laziness by fulfilling our daily responsibilities, providing for our families and the needy.
Let us steward our gifts and use the talents, time, and resources God has given us to serve others and press forward the Gospel of Jesus.
Let us continue to love our neighbours and obey Christ’s command to love others selflessly, and relieve suffering, etc.
Let us fulfill the Great Commission and constantly share the good news so others can be saved before the Lord returns.
Let us stay anchored in the Word of God and dwell on Scripture daily to avoid spiritual drift in today’s confusing culture.
Let every part of the Fruit of the Spirit work in us, and put on the armour of faith, hope, and love, staying sober-minded against temptation and deception of the World.
As the Body of Christ, watch, wait, and pray to build up fellow believers with the promise of the Second Coming of Christ rather than generating panic or giving dates etc, etc.
Beloved, “watching and waiting” is not a call to inactive observation or prophecy.
Alternatively, it describes an active, vigilant lifestyle that is rooted in spiritual preparedness and continuing readiness for Christ’s sudden return.
How stubborn can mankind be if it refuses to take this offer of advice? Christ is urging us to receive the BRIGHT and MORNING STAR into our lives. We are full of darkness without the star.
Salvation is open to whosoever will. If you miss the target and miss the first flight, the second flight will be difficult to get on, even if at all you can endure the torture till the end.
Beloved – Jesus is coming soon. Jesus is coming quickly. It is God’s wish that all should be saved.
If the certainty of Christ’s return to judge sinners does not motivate people to repent, then nothing will. Take a step now, and the Lord will give you rest and peace.
Jesus is on his way, and do not be deceived –Christians and non-Christians; today you have a choice to make.
Revelation 22: 12-13 “… behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
As no human knows the exact day or hour, our daily life must be lived in constant preparedness. Whether you believe or don’t – Jesus is coming the second time, and he is coming in his wrath.
It’s time to stop unbelieving and doubting and keep your faith aligned with His Holiness. Keep the Faith, and keep your Hope alive.
This is the Journal of Faith and Hope Diaries.
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