It would be a mistake for us to think that we merely go about our daily business waiting for Christ to return. In fact, there is much to take into consideration according to many scriptures. Let us review what they tell us while we occupy until he comes back to earth.
An item that Jesus mentioned in his sample prayer for the disciples is in Matthew 10:6 in which he says thy kingdom come. Therefore, it behooves us to pray for the kingdom to come while we wait until Jesus arrives. Our desires must recognize that earthly life is inferior to eternal life.
When we partake of the Lord’s supper, are you aware that there is an admonition in 1 Corinthians 11:26 that we are to do it to show the Lord’s death until he come? In other words, our partaking of communion is not just reflective of his death on the cross, but it is projective into the future until Christ arrives here on earth a second time.
We are to view ourselves as pilgrims on this earth as mentioned in Hebrews 11:13. If we are pilgrims, then our interests should not be primarily in the affairs of this world and what it has to offer. Anyone on vacation will notice the sights and sounds passing through an area that is not their home. Neither should we in this earth because it should have little interest to us compared to our heavenly home. We are only traveling through this world.
I once believed that the dispensations described in the Bible succeeded each other but now I believe that there is an overlapping when one ends and the other begins as indicated in Luke 21:25-31 where Jesus talks about the end times. He says that our redemption is drawing near. And he speaks of a generation which I believe is our generation shall not pass till all these things are fulfilled.
Even though there are people who benefit from the Christian environment, that does not mean that they are actual Christians as demonstrated in 1 Timothy 4:1. The closer we get to the arrival of Christ the more people will fall out of biblical Christianity denying the basic truths as outlined in Scripture. This we should take a sign that he is coming soon. We must not be disturbed by this exodus.
We already have seen people scoffing Christianity and the idea of Christ returning literately. This was prophesied in 2 Peter 3: 3-4. As we await the coming of Christ, let us not take to heart the harsh words that critics say about Christ and his coming. They will not be able to stop his coming while mocking his prophecy.
Jesus raises a probing question while we wait for his return when he asks in Luke 12: 40, shall he find faith on the earth? This is a sad commentary on the church and professing believers. It is also a glad commentary on true believers that Jesus is expecting us to maintain faith as part of our daily lives until he comes.
Last of all, in writing to the church of Laodicea, Jesus pictures himself outside the church door knocking for entrance as mentioned in Revelation 3: 20. As we look around at the denigration of the Christian practice, certainly in many cases Christ has been excommunicated from his own church. Until Jesus does come back, we must make sure that he is the center of worship in church services and activities.
Christian Writer 