PART III — IF CHRIST IS COMING, HOW SHOULD WE LIVE?

“Church, Get Ready!”

Revelation 22:12

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

The greatest question concerning the end times is not:

When will the Antichrist appear?

It is not:

Which nation fulfills which prophecy?

It is not:

What year will the rapture happen?

The greatest personal question is:

IF JESUS CHRIST CAME, WOULD I BE READY?

1. WAKE UP FROM SPIRITUAL SLEEP

Romans 13:11 says:

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep…”

There is a dangerous condition that can come upon Christians.

Spiritual sleep.

You still attend church.

You still know the songs.

You still know the vocabulary.

You still carry the Bible.

But the fire is disappearing.

Prayer becomes occasional.

Scripture becomes secondary.

Sin becomes tolerable.

Evangelism disappears.

Worship becomes routine.

The heart grows cold.

Paul cries:

WAKE UP!

Church, this is not the hour to sleep.

2. REMOVE THE THINGS THAT DISPLEASE GOD

1 John 3:2–3 connects Christ’s appearing with personal holiness:

“We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Then John says:

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Notice what genuine prophetic hope produces:

Purity.

If studying prophecy only makes us argumentative but does not make us holy, something is wrong.

The return of Christ should change how we live.

3. KEEP YOUR LAMP BURNING

Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25.

Five were wise.

Five were foolish.

All were waiting.

All had lamps.

But only five were properly prepared.

Then suddenly came the cry:

“Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!”

The tragedy comes in Matthew 25:10:

“And the door was shut.”

Those words should shake every careless heart.

The door was shut.

There comes a point when opportunity ends.

Today the Gospel door is open.

Today Christ calls sinners.

Today forgiveness is offered.

Today grace is available.

But Scripture does not tell us that today’s opportunity will continue forever.

4. DO NOT LET THE WORLD STEAL YOUR HEART

Jesus warned in Luke 21:34:

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life…”

Notice:

“cares of this life.”

Not everything that distracts us from Christ necessarily looks evil.

Work.

Money.

Homes.

Possessions.

Entertainment.

Plans.

Ambitions.

These can become so consuming that eternity disappears from our thinking.

We can become so busy building a temporary life that we neglect preparation for the eternal one.

5. KEEP WORKING UNTIL JESUS COMES

Waiting for Jesus does not mean sitting around staring toward heaven.

It means working faithfully.

Preach the Gospel.

Feed the hungry.

Encourage the broken.

Teach the Word.

Raise your children in the Lord.

Serve the Church.

Forgive your enemies.

Love your neighbor.

Pray.

Worship.

Make disciples.

Use whatever gift God has given you.

Jesus said in Luke 19:13:

“Do business till I come.”

The Church has an assignment until the King returns.

THE FINAL CRY OF SCRIPTURE

The Bible closes with a promise.

Revelation 22:20:

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’”

And John answers:

“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

That should be the cry of the Church.

Come, Lord Jesus!

But until He comes—

We will preach.

We will pray.

We will worship.

We will pursue holiness.

We will make disciples.

We will proclaim the Gospel.

We will keep our lamps burning.

Because our King is coming.

CONCLUSION — THE QUESTION IS NOT “WHEN?” BUT “ARE YOU READY?”

Church, perhaps we are the generation that will witness the return of Christ.

Perhaps we are not.

Scripture does not permit us to declare what God has not revealed.

But whether Christ comes in our lifetime or whether we first go through death, every one of us will stand before Him.

Therefore, the message remains the same.

Do not gamble with eternity.

Do not postpone repentance.

Do not play Christianity.

Do not allow the world to possess your heart.

Do not let your lamp go out.

Jesus Christ died.

Jesus Christ was buried.

Jesus Christ rose again.

Jesus Christ ascended into heaven.

And—

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN!

The trumpet will sound.

The dead in Christ will rise.

The saints will be gathered.

The King will appear.

And the Church will forever be with her Lord.

Therefore:

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
— Matthew 24:42

Church, wake up.

Church, look up.

Church, preach the Gospel.

Church, keep your garments clean.

Church, keep your lamps burning.

Church, prepare to meet your King.

Because the final promise of Jesus still stands:

“SURELY I AM COMING QUICKLY.”

And the answer of the redeemed must remain:

“AMEN. EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!”

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!