4 minute read
When He Comes
Some notable Biblical scholars have said that while we may not know the exact time that our Savior will return, we can approximate a year, perhaps even a month. Others say we can’t even come close. Some have even said that there is no apocalypse, and that Christ will not return. Well, the numerous opinions about the second coming of Christ are one of the many reasons it is so incredibly important for us to read and study God’s Word for ourselves. We are to yield to the Holy Spirit. He is our Teacher and Guide, and he will confirm the truth in our hearts. Our Master Jesus teaches in Matthew 24:36-39(NLT), “36 However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” If you’ll close your eyes for just a moment, you can visualize so vividly how this could happen any day now, because most people are oblivious. They think things will continue as they have been, but those of us who are diligently seeking God understand that many are not prepared for the return of Christ. Like in Noah’s days, they won’t realize what is happening until it’s too late. 2Corinthians 5:20(NLT) declares, “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” This is what God requires of every born-again believer. This is what is important to Him. As a parent, you don’t want to stand before Christ on that glorious day without having done all you can to tell your children about Jesus Christ and to have helped them give their lives to him. As a family member, friend, or co-worker, you don’t want to look Jesus in the face, knowing you had multiple opportunities to speak an encouraging word to someone in need, but didn’t. You don’t want to behold the glory of our Lord knowing you’ve cast people aside because they didn’t look like you and weren’t blessed to know the Lord the way you know him. No, when he comes, we want to be ready, and we should be doing everything we possibly can to hear him tell us, “Well done. You’ve been a faithful servant. Come be with me.”
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REALIGNING YOUR AGENDA WITH GOD’S AGENDA
fter her 30th birthday, Gwendolyn started to ask herself some deep questions. Things were not going as she had hoped, and the doors of opportunity she had once experienced in her life all seemed to close. She felt stuck and when a big promotion she wanted didn’t land in her lap, it was just too much. After all the sacrifices she had made, she was shocked and appalled that they didn’t choose her. She abruptly left her position as creative director for the youth center. Her next job allowed nothing like the creative freedom she had enjoyed in her last position. She was stuck behind a desk all day doing research as a marketing analyst. She didn’t hate the job, but she didn’t love it either. And after she and her boyfriend, Terrence, of two years decided to part ways, Gwendolyn began to seriously look at the path her life had taken. It was not what she had dreamt for herself, and she found it extremely difficult to reconcile her current reality from where she thought she’d end up. Gwendolyn was experiencing the discomfort of separating fantasy and faith. She was witnessing the missteps and mishaps that occur when we’ve veered off the path of purpose. God’s grace covers us in many ways, but when we choose a trajectory that impedes our destinies in Christ, life will become unfriendly and this is not fun. People will often say that God is punishing us for our wrongdoing, but this is not the truth. God is not the One that is causing our believing to miss the mark. We do this all on our own. But it is important for us to know that we choose to get back on the path He desires at any time. All we need to do is to pray and ask for His guidance, and then listen attentively to His directives.
