The Bible is clear on the fact that Jesus is coming. We do not know when, but we can be assured of His return (2 Peter 3:4-10). Consider some thoughts about our preparation for and focus on the coming of Christ.

JESUS IS COMING, BE COMFORTED
Such a sorrowful scene is presented in the latter portion of John 13. Jesus, assembled with His disciples to share the Passover feast, reveals that one of them would betray Him. The inspired writer records, "...the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke..." (13:22). Shortly thereafter, the Lord spoke to them, "Little children, I shall be with a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you." (13:33).

Yet these hard-to-swallow words were accompanied by words of comfort. "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3).

What a source of comfort, both for the disciples there and for us today. The Lord is coming back from His Father's house to take us home (1 Thessalonaians 4:17). Then, we shall dwell eternally with him in the heavenly home He has prepared for His own (2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Peter 1:4).

JESUS IS COMING, BE COGNIZANT.
How great is the need to be aware, as we do not know the time of His coming. In fact, of His coming, Jesus spoke, "...of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13:32). Jesus Himself does not know the day of His return, only His Father. Thus, the admonition, "...let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants." (Luke 12:35-38). Be ready!!

JESUS IS COMING, BE CONVERSANT.
Knowing that the day of the Lord is coming, we ought to be a talkative bunch. Not with miscellaneous chatter, but first and foremost, we ought to be diligent in our prayers. The apostle Peter wrote, "...the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." (1 Peter 4:7). How important to maintain and improve our relationship with our eternal Father, that we might become more as He is (1 Peter 1:16). This is accomplished by conversation: 1) allowing Him to speak to us through His words, 2) us speaking to Him through the avenue of prayer.

Furthermore, we ought to be conversant with those who are about us. Peter again writes, "...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..." (1 Peter 3:15). If we have the hope of heaven, we must also have the capacity to share it with others. We need to have a working knowledge of the Lord's will, and then add to that, the knowledge to work with the word.

JESUS IS COMING, BE CLEAN.
What a wonderful promise this lost world has from the Lord, "...the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men..." (Titus 2:11). However, this grace which God bestows calls for us to receive and respond to it. How? "...teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:12-13). We have been called out of a world of filth and unrighteousness to a life of godliness in this present age. If we are to be ready at His appearing, we will leave the lusts of the world behind and live according to the Spirit of God.

JESUS IS COMING, BE CHALLENGED.
In Matthew 25, Jesus give a parable about the kingdom of God. He says, "...the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey." (25:14-15). As we continue through the parable, we find that those with five and two talents worked with them, providing an increase. The one talent man did nothing.

Upon his return, the five and two talent servants were commended, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (25:21, 23). However, the one talent man heard, "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (25:26-30).

Friend, what will the Lord say to you at His return? Have you been a good and faithful servant, handling rightly His words and the abilities which He has given into your care? Or has your manner of life been that of the wicked and lazy servant? The Lord is coming! He will settle account with His servants. What shall He say to you?

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
Are good deeds to be done before men (Matthew 5:16) or are they to be done in secret (Matthew 6:3-4)? Is there a contradiction?