Life is precious, and every moment we are given is a gift from God. Each
sunrise brings with it new opportunities to serve, love, and grow closer to
Him. Yet, in the hustle and bustle of modern life, it can be easy to lose sight
of the eternal perspective. The Bible, however, calls us to live differently.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are urged to prepare for His return—a
momentous event that will come suddenly and without warning. This divine
directive is not merely a suggestion but an essential truth that should shape
how we approach each day. The call to readiness is a challenge to live as
though each day were our last, fully aligned with God’s will and priorities.
Jesus’ return is a central theme of
the Christian faith, and the Bible is filled with passages that emphasize the
importance of being prepared. From the warnings about the signs of the end
times to the powerful parables that illustrate spiritual vigilance, scripture
provides us with the tools and guidance needed to live in a state of readiness.
Yet, the reality is that we live in a world teeming with distractions and
temptations. These distractions, often subtle and pervasive, threaten to draw
our focus away from the eternal and onto the temporary. Social pressures,
career ambitions, and the pursuit of material comforts can easily become
stumbling blocks in our journey of faith. As a result, many Christians find
themselves spiritually unprepared, neglecting the urgency of the times in which
we live.
The message of preparing for
Christ’s return is not one of fear, but rather one of hope and joy. It is a
call to live with intentionality, placing our faith firmly in the promises of
God. Jesus Himself assures us of eternal life through faith in Him, declaring
that He is the Bread of Life and the source of our spiritual sustenance. This
promise should inspire us to live boldly, to love deeply, and to serve
faithfully, knowing that our earthly time is both limited and purposeful.
Preparing for Christ’s return is not simply about avoiding sin but about
embracing the fullness of a life lived in a relationship with God.
The Bible offers profound insights
into how we should approach this task. Passages like Matthew 24, Mark 13, and
Luke 21 outline the signs of the end times, warning us to stay vigilant. The
parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 underscores the importance of
spiritual readiness, while the teachings of John 6 remind us that Jesus is the
Bread of Life, our ultimate source of strength and salvation. These scriptures
challenge us to examine our priorities and to align our lives with God’s
purposes. To live with eternity in mind is to live with the assurance that we
are not only preparing for a future event but are also participating in the
unfolding of God’s plan in the present.
This preparation is both a challenge
and a privilege. It requires daily discipline, prayer, and a willingness to
surrender our plans to God’s greater vision. It calls us to remain steadfast in
our faith despite the uncertainties and trials of life. And it encourages us to
find joy and purpose in the promise of Christ’s return. As we embark on this
journey through scripture, let us embrace the call to live each day as though
it were our last, fully committed to the hope and mission that Christ has
entrusted to us. By doing so, we will not only be prepared for His return but
will also reflect His light and love in a world that so desperately needs it.
Signs of the End Times
Matthew 24:1-35
"Jesus left the temple and was walking
away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings.
‘Do you see all these things?’ he asked. ‘Truly I tell you, not one stone here
will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.’ As Jesus was sitting
on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they
said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of
the end of the age?’ Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For
many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not
alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will
rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and
earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted
and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that
time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the
increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands
firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached
in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
So when you see standing in the holy place
‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet
Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the
house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will
be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight
will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great
distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be
equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but
for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone
says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “There he is!” do not believe it.
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of
time.
So if anyone tells you, “There he is, out in
the wilderness,” do not go out; or, “Here he is, in the inner rooms,” do not
believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the
west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass,
there the vultures will gather.
Immediately after the distress of those days
‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will
fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ Then will appear
the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth
will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with
power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call,
and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens
to the other.
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As
soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is
near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right
at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away
until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my
words will never pass away."
This passage provides a comprehensive look at
the signs preceding Jesus’ return. Jesus describes wars, natural disasters, and
false prophets as key indicators of the end times. These warnings serve as both
admonitions and encouragements for believers to remain vigilant. The imagery of
cosmic disturbances emphasizes the magnitude of the event. Jesus’ emphasis on
perseverance and faithfulness highlights the necessity of grounding oneself in
God’s Word to withstand deception. It calls us to prepare our hearts and deepen
our relationship with God.
The Day and Hour Unknown
Matthew 24:36-51
"But about that day or hour, no one
knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it
was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in
the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving
in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about
what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it
will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will
be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one
will be taken and the other left.
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know
on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house
had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch
and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready,
because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Who then is the faithful and wise servant,
whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them
their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master
finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge
of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself,
‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow
servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will
come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He
will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
In this passage, Jesus emphasizes the
uncertainty surrounding the timing of His return. By drawing a parallel to the
days of Noah, He warns of the dangers of complacency. The suddenness of the
flood is likened to the suddenness of His return, urging believers to remain
spiritually vigilant. The parable of the faithful and wicked servants
highlights the importance of living a life of obedience and service, even when
the Master’s return feels delayed. This scripture reminds us that readiness is
not about predicting dates but about faithfully walking in God’s will daily,
prepared to meet Him at any moment.
Luke 12:42-46
"The Lord answered, ‘Who then is the
faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to
give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that
servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he
will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to
himself, “My master is taking a long time in coming,” and he then begins to beat
the other servants, both men, and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The
master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an
hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with
the unbelievers.'"
This passage builds on the theme of readiness
by contrasting the actions of faithful and unfaithful servants. The faithful
servant continues to fulfill his duties, honoring his responsibilities even in
the master’s absence. The unfaithful servant, however, succumbs to
self-indulgence and neglects his role. The stark consequences faced by the
unfaithful servant serve as a solemn warning for all believers. This scripture
challenges us to reflect on our own faithfulness and to live with integrity,
ensuring that we are always ready to give an account to our Lord.
Luke 17:26-27
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so
also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking,
marrying, and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then
the flood came and destroyed them all."
The comparison to the days of Noah
underscores the dangers of complacency and distraction. Just as the flood came
suddenly upon an unsuspecting world, so will the return of the Son of Man. This
scripture warns against being consumed by the routines and pleasures of life
while neglecting spiritual readiness. It calls believers to live with an
eternal perspective, remaining watchful and steadfast in their faith.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1-13
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will
be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps
but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars
along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all
became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the
bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed
their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our
lamps are going out.’
‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough
for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for
yourselves.’
But while they were on their way to buy the
oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the
wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’
they said, ‘open the door for us!’
But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t
know you.’
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know
the day or the hour."
This parable illustrates the importance of
spiritual preparedness. The wise virgins represent those who are vigilant and
spiritually equipped, while the foolish virgins symbolize complacency. The oil
signifies readiness—a life filled with faith, prayer, and obedience to God’s
Word. The closing of the door serves as a sobering reminder that there will
come a time when it is too late to prepare. This parable challenges us to live
with urgency and focus, ensuring that we are always ready to meet our Savior.
Conclusion
The return of Jesus Christ is not merely a future event to anticipate but a
reality that should shape every moment of our lives. As believers, we are
called to live with purpose, vigilance, and unwavering faith, fully prepared to
meet our Savior when He comes again. The scriptures explored in this
article—from the warnings about the signs of the end times to the parable of
the ten virgins and the profound truths found in John 6—serve as a powerful
reminder of the urgency of our mission. They challenge us to remain steadfast,
to avoid the distractions and complacency of the world, and to prioritize the
things of eternal significance.
At its core, the call to readiness
is an invitation to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the Bread
of Life, the source of our spiritual nourishment, and the anchor of our hope.
Through faith in Him, we are promised eternal life, a gift that transcends the
fleeting pleasures and challenges of this world. This assurance should inspire
us to live with boldness and joy, embracing the opportunities each day provides
to serve, love, and reflect God’s glory. Our readiness for Christ’s return is
not measured by our ability to predict the future but by our willingness to
faithfully walk in His will, moment by moment.
Living in readiness also means
adopting an eternal perspective. It is a recognition that our time on earth,
though brief, carries profound significance. Each act of kindness, each word of
encouragement, and each moment spent in prayer contribute to the greater
tapestry of God’s kingdom. As we await Christ’s return, we are called to be His
hands and feet in the world, shining His light in places of darkness and
offering hope to those in need. This mission is not only a responsibility but
also a profound privilege, allowing us to participate in God’s redemptive work.
Yet, readiness requires intentional
effort. It demands that we examine our hearts, confess our sins, and align our
priorities with God’s purposes. It calls us to remain vigilant, to stand firm
in our faith, and to resist the temptation
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