Have you ever had a friend tell you about his favorite restaurant or home-cooked meal or dessert by saying, “You’ve got to try it. It will change your life”? Obviously, in this context, this phrase is an exaggeration used to try to describe their love for a particular meal. While your life may be temporarily improved, it is unlikely that a single dining experience is truly going to change your life.
However, there is a life changing truth in Scripture that is neglected by Christians far too often. That is the return of Christ. I fear that many of us neglect to consider the reality of Christ’s imminent return in our daily Christian lives. We go about our weekly routines, never giving thought to the fact that we may see our Savior today!
Titus 2:13 commands us to be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” We are to be expecting His return. Yet, many of us can go days, weeks, and even months, without intentionally obeying this command, completely ignoring the truth that He is coming.
If you will live with the return of Christ at the forefront of your mind, “It Will Change Your Life!”
How can it change your life?
• The Rapture Brings a Comfort
I Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
I Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
No matter how bad things seem to get in our lives, knowing that God is in control and has not appointed His children to wrath, brings a great comfort. As the songwriter said, “I’ve read the back of the Book, and we win!”
I am a sports fan. There have been times when I have been unable to watch an important sporting event live. So, I record it to watch it later. But, before I am able to watch it, I find out that my team won the game. Knowing the end result of the game brings a great comfort when my team messes up and faces seemingly insurmountable odds. I know the final score, so the opposition doesn’t have the same affect on me. I watch the game in great comfort, never getting nervous or uptight about losing.
The same is true for the Christian. We know the final score. No matter what deep valley we may be facing, we can be comforted by the “blessed hope” that He is coming again!
That truth will change your life!
• The Rapture Brings a Challenge
When we live with Heaven in view, we will be challenged to be a holy people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14). If we really live today like we may see Christ, it will change our thoughts, our schedule, our words, our actions, our passions, and our priorities. We will be better Christians, better mates, better parents, better friends, better neighbors, better workers, and better witnesses. Maybe today my Lord will come for me!
When we live with Heaven in view, we will be challenged to be a holy people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14). If we really live today like we may see Christ, it will change our thoughts, our schedule, our words, our actions, our passions, and our priorities. We will be better Christians, better mates, better parents, better friends, better neighbors, better workers, and better witnesses. Maybe today my Lord will come for me!
That truth will change your life!
• The Rapture Brings a Concern
We say we believe that Christ could come at any moment. We sing songs about it and hear messages preached about it. However, sometimes, we don’t let this truth seep into our daily living. If we did, we would be far more concerned for those who are without Christ. We would have a burden and a passion for those who will be left behind when Christ comes to claim His own. We would have a deeper concern to get the gospel to our community, our country, and our world.
We say we believe that Christ could come at any moment. We sing songs about it and hear messages preached about it. However, sometimes, we don’t let this truth seep into our daily living. If we did, we would be far more concerned for those who are without Christ. We would have a burden and a passion for those who will be left behind when Christ comes to claim His own. We would have a deeper concern to get the gospel to our community, our country, and our world.
Those who die without Christ will spend eternity in hell. And, their time on earth may be shorter than any of us think.
That truth will change your life!
So, may I encourage each of you to be looking for that blessed hope on a daily basis? When you wake up each day this week, would you do your best to recognize that Christ could return today?
It will change your life!