1 post tagged “fruitful”
Several times during His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus warned His followers to be ready for His coming again. For instance, He said in Matthew 24:42, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." Two verses later Jesus warned, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (verse 44). In the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13).
All born-again believers believe that the Lord Jesus is coming back one day. Now, we may not agree on just when we think He will return, particularly for His bride, the church, but we believe that just as surely as He came the first time He is coming again one day. The question is not, "Is Jesus coming again?" It's not even, "When is He coming again?" because no one but the Father knows when. The question we as believers need to ask ourselves is, "Are we ready for our Lord's return?" Are we heeding His warning and watching for His return?
The late evangelist and pastor R.A. Torrey once said, "The return of our Lord is the great Bible argument for a pure, devoted, active life of service." Indeed, if we truly believe that Jesus is coming again and that He could come at any moment then our lives will reflect our belief. Unfortunately, though we believe that our Lord is coming back one day many of us do not live with the urgency that indicates that it is a real belief. Instead of loving and serving our Lord as we should, many Christians give mere lip service to Him.
What if? What if our Heavenly Father chose to warn us that on a particular day the Lord Jesus would return? Gone would be our lip service. Many who have for years set as spectators on the sidelines would suddenly get busy for the Lord. Those who have never shared their faith with a lost person would immediately begin to tell the Good News. Those who have robbed God of His tithe would try to play catch up. Those church members on our rolls who have not set foot in a church in ages would suddenly become some of the most faithful members our churches have ever had.
I think you get the picture. If we knew that Jesus was going to return in a week, a month, or a year that knowledge would impact the way we live for Him. Well, friend, we know that He is coming again one day. Therefore we ought to live each day as though it were the day of His return.
As faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ we must be ready because He is coming again one day and today could be that day!!! So as our Lord taught us, let us be dressed and ready for His return. Let's keep the lamps burning and watch, and as we watch let us be faithful and fruitful servants!
Jesus is coming! Are YOU ready?
