Every new day seems to bring about more speculation that we are quickly approaching the day that Christ will return to take His Church to Heaven. While we have no way of knowing exactly what day and time His return will take place, we do know that we are called to be constantly watching and preparing ourselves for the return of Christ. How can you prepare yourself for the impending return of the Lord?
For thousands of years, Christians have been living in an anxious anticipation of Christ’s return. When you read the texts of the New Testament, the men and women who penned the words we read today talked about the importance of the earliest Church living in preparation and anticipation of Christ’s return. We read at the end of the Gospel accounts of Christ returning to Heaven. From that moment on, His people have assumed that they would be the generation that would see the return of the Lord.
Today, we operate under the same assumption. Whether you’re a seasoned theologian or a new believer, you have probably seen reports of things going on around the world and believed that they are signs of the end of time as we know it. That belief is certainly true. However, we do not know the exact hour or day that Christ will return. Not only does the Bible tell us that no human knows the hour, but Scripture also warns that anyone who claims that they have access to that information is a false prophet and should be treated as such.
So, what does that mean for us? Should we just go through our lives with the knowledge that Christ will one day return? Or should we be constantly anxious, wondering if the world that we know is going to end in the snap of a finger?
Some people believe that we should simply muddle through our daily lives, doing as little as possible because we know that this world is temporary. None of those ideologies are particularly good, and none of them are Scripturally sound. Instead, Christ gave the perfect path to how we should approach the return of Christ.
Watch and Pray for Yourself
Luke 21:34-36 (TPT)
“Be careful that you never allow your hearts to grow cold. Remain passionate and free from anxiety and the worries of this life. Then you will not be caught off guard by what happens. Don’t let me come and find you drunk or careless in living like everyone else. For that day will come as a shocking surprise to all, like a downpour that drenches everyone, catching many unaware and unprepared. Keep a constant watch over your soul, and pray for the courage and grace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur and that you will stand before the presence of the Son of Man with a clear conscience.”
Christ’s words give us a powerful foundation that we can build on. Yes, there will be day when He returns to call His Church away to spend eternity with Him. No, there is nothing anyone can do or say to determine when that day and hour will come.
The key to being prepared for the return of Christ isn’t to try to determine when it’s going to happen. Instead, the key to being prepared for the return of Christ is to understand that it is going to happen and that you will have no idea when. However, not knowing the “when” doesn’t mean that it will catch you off guard.
Instead, Christ encouraged His people to make sure that we are living our lives in a way that ensures that we are in a perpetual state of preparation. When you watch over your soul, and combine that with a persistent prayer for courage and grace, you will be able to encounter His presence when that day comes. We can apply the principles found in Scripture to ensure that we are watching and praying, ensuring that we are prepared for a day that we cannot know.
Watch and Pray for the Church
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (TPT)
For the Lord himself will appear with a declaration of victory, the shout of an archangel, and the trumpet blast of God. He will descend from the heavenly realm and command those who are dead in Christ to rise first. Then we who are alive will join them, transported together in clouds to have an encounter with the Lord in the air, and we will be forever joined with the Lord. So encourage one another with these truths.
The idea of the end of time being filled with mysteries and misconceptions isn’t new. When Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonian Church, he was combating the misinformation that was spreading, and the fear that it caused.
One of the most important things that you can pray for when preparing yourself for the return of Christ is the Church as a whole. Make no mistake about it, there are still people trying to spread misinformation about Christ’s return. When people are faced with misinformation, fear is the natural byproduct.
This stage of preparing for the return of Christ is twofold. First of all, spend concerted time praying for the Church as a whole. There are people who believe in Christ in every corner of the world facing persecution, while also trying to make sure that they are prepared to stand before Christ with a clear conscience. Additionally, pray for Church leaders, both those in your local congregation and those around the globe. These men and women are responsible for spreading the truth of the Gospel and helping believers prepare themselves for the rapture.
Watch and Pray for Your Household
Matthew 24:45-47 (TPT)
“Who is the one qualified to oversee the master’s house? He will be a reliable servant who is wise and faithful, one he can depend on. The master will want to give him the responsibility of overseeing others in his house, for his servant will lead them well and give them food at the right time. What joy and blessing will come to that faithful servant when the master comes home to find him serving with excellence! I can promise you, the master will raise him up and put him in charge of all that he owns.
Secondly, you have a responsibility to pray for the people in your household. However, it’s important to understand what the term “household” really means in this context. If we look at it on the surface, it would mean that you only need to pray for the people under your roof. That’s simply not the case. Instead, when the Bible talks about the household, it’s referring to the people in your life.
If you know the truth of Scripture, it’s even more important that you pray for the people in your life who may not be as well-versed in Scripture as you are. The end of time as we know it is going to come. Moreover, it’s going to come at the same time for everyone.
Christ is not going to separate His coming into multiple phases in which the people who know the truth get a chance, and then those who didn’t receive another chance. That means that you should pray for the eyes of the people around you to be constantly opened, watching, waiting, and anticipating the return of the Lord.
Christ wants His people to be prepared for His coming, even if we can’t know when it’s going to happen. That means that you live your life in a way where you are ready to stand before God at any moment. Praying for yourself, the Church at large, and the people in your life are all important aspects of preparing for the glorious return of Christ Jesus.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that there will be a day where Your Son returns for Your people. Give me the grace and the courage that I need to keep myself ready for that day. Bless the leaders of Your Church to spread the truth and open the eyes of the people in my life. In Christ’s name, Amen.