Monday, October 10, 2022

              There is much conversation about the end of time and the end times.  And, frankly, this topic has been a popular conversation for a long, long time.  People often wonder about how to get ready for the end.  Well, one way to be ready for the Lord’s return is simply staying ready for His return.  We do not have a specific or definite date given to us in Scripture so the best way to live is to assume the Lord could come at any time for His people.  In Romans 13, Paul addressed the matter of the Lord’s return and the end of time.  We read, “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:11-14).  A few lessons stand out for us as believers who anticipate our Lord’s coming.
            First, we should not slumber or sleep. We should be awake.  Keep your faith awake and alive.  Do not slip or slide into cruise control or just drifting along.  Read Scripture, pray, worship and live an anticipatory life where you look for the Lord’s return.  We want to stay ready to keep from getting ready.  Each day that we live brings us one more day closer to being with the Lord forever.  What a joy!
            Second, make sure you are living rightly and righteously.  Put aside any sin or darkness in your life.  Pursue the Lord.  Live your life in such a way that you can draw others to Jesus based on what they see and find in you.  Create a hunger for the Lord in others by living distinctly and differently.  If we know the Lord is coming back, we have no need to waste time in sinful things or trivial and fruitless pursuits.  Invest your life and days in the things that truly matter.
            Third, Paul said we are to behave “decently” in verse 13.  The idea is we are to exercise self-control and to channel our lives and energy in the direction of honoring the Lord.  In fact, he gave some opposing examples of what living “indecently” looks like.  We should ensure that we are living worthy lives and not living to please ourselves.  “No” is a good biblical word.  And simply saying “no” to certain things is the right step to take.  The modifier “as in the daytime” means that we are to live as if our lives are in the full view of others.  Certainly, God sees how we live.  And likely, others observe us as well.  Put forth a worthy example for others to see.  You may inspire someone else.   
            And fourth, make Christ your passion.  Paul commanded to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Seeing Christ, leaning on Christ and abiding with Christ are the passions we are to cultivate.  We are not to think about how we make ourselves happy or how we flirt with sinful pursuits and ways.  Strike a Christ-like posture in every situation where you find yourself.  If we make Christlikeness our highest pursuit, we can ensure that we are staying ready for His return.  Have a great Monday and remember you can share our worship at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.