The return of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest blessings that we have as Christians. It’s a fundamental part of our faith and should be very dear and special to us all. The angels in Acts chapter 1 were certain of the Lord’s return. They told the apostles, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11).
There are lots of unanswered questions about His return: when, how things will be, what will happen next, etc. But let me say this—regardless of what we are not sure of and can’t be dogmatic about, Jesus is coming back! That’s something very dear to my heart and should be to yours as well if you are a Christian.
When Jesus Himself spoke of His return in Luke chapter 12, He doesn’t try and prove it to be true. He doesn’t tell us when or even try to confirm the reality of His return. Rather, He simply affirms the truth that He’s coming back (whether anyone believes it or not)! The emphasis Jesus makes is not when, or to give details, etc. The emphasis is simply this—”I’m Coming Back! You be ready!”
I wonder how many people today are truly ready for the Lord’s return? How many of you are truly ready for His imminent return? If you say you are ready then I next must ask, “Is what you call being ready the same as what Christ considers being ready?”
You say, “Ok, what do we do? How do we prepare ourselves? How can we ‘be ready’ for the 2nd Coming of the Lord?” Well, from Luke 12:36-40 you must: (1) Make Him your Master; (2) Become His servant; and (3) Live in expectation. Now you can say you are expecting His return, but how you live will really tell if you are expecting Him or not. If you are truly expecting Jesus to come you will be about His business. You’ll be reading His Word, obeying His Word, praying, seeking holiness, spreading the Gospel, etc. In other words, if you are truly ready for His return it will be seen in how you live.
The warning of this very text is that there is judgment for those who reject Christ. Eternal judgment. (Read Luke 12:41-48). And the worst judgment is for those who hear the truth of the Gospel and yet still reject it by not responding by faith. Don’t let that happen to you!
Jesus is teaching us in this text to be ready for His certain return. He’s coming back! I hope you are ready. I pray that you are ready. If you truly are ready for His return it will be evident by the way you live.
If you knew Christ would return before 2:00pm today, would you have to try and clean up your act between now and then? Would you have to run home and hide certain magazines or videos in your house? Would you try and erase website histories on your computer or phone numbers on your cell phone? If you would have to run home to hide / erase / change things, then you probably are not ready.
The fact of the matter is that Christ is coming back. And it could be at any moment. To live in worldliness without any concern for His return is foolishness. To live in joyful anticipation of His return is evidence that you are ready, and that you are growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
By His Grace,
Pastor Johnny