“If Jesus Came Back Soon, Would Your Life Show You Were Ready?” October 18
Do you believe Jesus is coming back?
Most Christians would quickly answer:
Yes.
But here is the harder question:
Does the way we live show that we really believe it?
It is possible to affirm Christ’s return doctrinally while living as though this world will go on forever.
We can become distracted.
Spiritually sleepy.
Consumed with temporary things.
Careless about sin.
Slow to pray.
Unconcerned about people who do not know Christ.
Paul warned the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night.”
Many people will be completely unprepared.
But believers are not supposed to live that way.
We are children of the light.
We know Christ is coming.
And 1 Thessalonians 5 gives us some remarkably practical instructions for how that truth should shape our daily lives.
They have less to do with predicting dates and more to do with how we treat our pastors, respond to difficult people, pray, handle sin, receive God’s Word, and discern what is true.
So perhaps the best question is not:
“How soon is Jesus coming?”
But:
“If I really believe He could come soon, what should be different about the way I live today?”
Our Old Testament reading also gives us a sobering picture of what happens when people repeatedly ignore God’s warnings. And Psalm 119 reminds us how hiding God’s Word in our hearts helps guard us from sin and gives us greater understanding of Him and His will.
