ARE YOU LOOKING UP?
The early Church lived in the light of the soon return of the Lord, and believers would greet each other with the word Maranatha which basically translated is “Behold the Lord cometh”. Jesus himself says in Luke 21:28 “raise your heads because your redemption draws near”.
Apostles like Paul and John lived constantly anticipating the Lord’s return, John reminding us in 1 John 3:3 He that has the hope of the Lord’s return keeps himself pure.
Paul tells us that Christ will return like a thief breaking into a home at night, but we (believers are not of the night, because we are supposed to be living our lives as if Jesus could return TODAY.
Two thousand years have now passed and Christ has not returned, we never hear much preaching and teaching these days about Christ’s second coming. We are so caught up with living life down here, little thought is given to eternal matters. It would seem then that although we are believers (and not of the night) because we are not looking up, nor living in the hope of Christ’s imminent return, we are going to be caught unawares when Jesus breaks through the clouds.
This was very much brought home to me as we were travelling last week from our home to Sydney (900kms).
In 1 Thessalonians 5:3 people will say “Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes”. Australia has a large range and quantity of fauna like Kangaroos, Wallabies, Wombats and foxes, that roam over our nation. We also have many highways and motorways that cross our country. These animals come out at dusk and dawn to feed, and have to often cross over the highway to get to the best feed. The vehicle lights cause the animals to freeze and are run over and killed by these cars and trucks. We literally saw at least 100 dead animals on the sides of the highway as we drove, (we deliberately do not drive at dusk or dawn) not only because we do not want to hit these animals hitting a big Kangaroos can do a lot of damage to a vehicle (we saw numerous car body parts strewn across the highways as we drove along.
These animals were simply doing what comes naturally, feeding themselves and unexpectantly were killed as they crossed the road.
Are there many Christians who are going to miss the Lord’s return because they were more concerned with early matters? I honestly don’t know, but I WANT TO BE READY.
Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5 that when Christ returns He is going to present to Himself the Church, but it is a very special, “WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING”. some believers are hoping just before Jesus breaks through the clouds God the father will flick His finger, and all our spots and blemishes and wrinkles will all disappear, I have some bad news for you, I do not find that in the Scripture, we have to “work out our Salvation with fear and trembling”.
I want to encourage you to start looking up, seeing the signs that are everywhere, that very soon Jesus will soon return, this will change your lifestyle, you will spend more time daily seeking the Lord, and living in the Spirit and walking in victory and power and purity.
Do you remember this great old hymn?
