“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1Thess. 4:16-5:1).
Are you ready to meet Jesus? The average Christian would say, “Sure, I am ready!”
Following the Rapture is the Judgment Seat of Christ (II Cor. 5:10; I Cor. 3:5-17). This is where our life of service since becoming a Christian is tried by fire. So how about your life? Do you live to glorify Him?
If the Rapture takes place today, will you be ready to face Him? Is there sin in your life? Do you pray? Are you digging for the gold in His Word? Are you witnessing to the lost? In other words are you being faithful…obedient to Him? Jesus says: “I know your works” (Rev.2-3).
Some say, ‘well as long as I make it. How sad!
It will be a very important event when we present our “gifts” to Him. Will you be Empty Handed? At this moment what will you lay at His feet?
What are we to be doing in this life as we look for His return? “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..” (2 Peter 3:14-18).
Knowing Jesus is coming again should motivate us. How much do we love Him? Knowing we are saved and eternally secure in Christ should cause us to move out into this dark world and lead others out.
The lost people do not know what is coming, Satan is blinding them, but you and I know! As we look around at what is going on we must be “diligent” in service. It means “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (v. 12). We are to wait eagerly and expect Him any moment. It is an attitude of excitement as we wait. Are we expecting Him?
When we live expecting Him it will make a difference in our personal conduct. “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (II Peter 3:11).
Christians are different! Let’s be different from the world.
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:1315).
This is a command to live a Godly life. “Holy” means “to separate.” We are set apart by God… called out from the godless world to live a life devoted to pleasing God. It is possible to be saved, but not devot-ed… it is called “carnal.”
When we live our life expecting Jesus to come, it makes a difference in our witness. We must witness of Jesus daily. He must be glorified. All this will make the difference when we see Jesus. We do not want to be ashamed.
So as we watch and wait for His return let us “be diligent” to live the Godly life. Let us be busy witnessing to the lost. Let us look forward to seeing Him, placing our life of service before Him with love in our hearts for Him.
Jesus says: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Rev. 22:12) Christian…are you ready today?
Let’s Worship! Witness! Love! Pray! Study! Obey! Work!
Unbeliever… Repent! Be ready for His coming.
Shirley R.
Watts
