Living For The Return

WE’VE ALL HEARD ABOUT

··· The return of Jesus Christ, and how He will then take us home with Him.

WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG

··· I was afraid of Jesus. My older brother said if I wasn’t careful, Jesus would reach out from the radio and pull me in with Him.

THAT’S THE SAME BROTHER

··· Who told me I was adopted and that my parents were wanting to give me back!

IT WAS VERY GOOD NEWS

··· to learn he was kidding.

BUT AS GOOD AS THAT NEWS WAS

··· It didn’t compare to the news that Jesus IS coming back – not to reach out and grab us, but to take us home with Him.

BUT THERE IS A VERY SAD STORY, TOO

··· Many people don’t relate personally to the story of Jesus’ return because it doesn’t make sense to them.

IT BECOMES MORE FANTASY THAN REALITY

··· They end up missing all the blessings that a true belief in Jesus would have given them.

CHRISTIANS HAVE THIS

··· Incredible message of grace, but sometimes, it just doesn’t fully sink in fully.

OH, WE KNOW THE STORY,

··· And we believe the story, but not always enough to actually live the story. And we sure don’t live our lives like Jesus could really return today !

WE FOCUS ON “RIGHT NOW”

··· Because that is all we see. We live for today and don’t focus on our eternity.

ETERNITY IS THIS VAGUE CONCEPT

··· That we don’t understand, so we tend to put it on a shelf, thinking we’ll get to it “LATER”

BUT “LATER” NEVER ARRIVES.

··· So, we end up going into eternity without being prepared

JESUS IS TARRYING.

··· He is delaying His return so we might have every chance to get ready; and to help and encourage others

WE THINK WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF TIME.

··· But in reality, do we have anywhere near the time we seem to think we have?

MATTHEW 24:42 says,

‘Therefore, keep watch – because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.’

THE BIBLE IS TELLING US

··· that instead of living like the Second Coming will eventually happen, we should be living like it will happen, as early as today or tomorrow.

IT IS TIME CHRISTIANS

··· Become wise. After all - if Jesus died for us can we not at least live for Him?

1. WE MUST LIVE OUR LIVES WISELY

THERE IS A SONG THAT GOES;

··· “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.”

WE ARE HERE FOR A VERY SHORT TIME

··· yet we act like this is all there is and that this will last forever. But the truth is - it won’t.

WE TEND TO FOCUS ON THE TRIP

··· and forget about the destination - and this does nothing to get into Heaven.

PEOPLE WHO IGNORE JESUS

··· will be in hell forever. What will hell be like? It is to burn forever but to never be consumed.

IT IS TO BE IN UTTER DARKNESS FOREVER

··· all alone and separated from God. They will know the truth but it will be too late. Their choices will already have been made and they will be stuck living the consequences of their choices forever.

THOSE WHO DO ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS

··· as the lead in their life, will spend eternity in Heaven

SO, THE QUESTION NOW BECOMES,

··· “Will we be wise or foolish?”

MANY OF US GO THROUGH LIFE

··· looking at our Christian life as a hobby to practice only on Sundays. These people are not focused on, or devoted to living for Jesus. These people are called CASUAL CHRISTIANS

CASUAL CHRISTIANS

··· go thru the motions planting one foot near Jesus while keeping the other foot firmly planted in the world around them. There is no reward for such behavior.

GOD EXPECTS EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES

··· to be centered on Jesus Christ. And God wants your total commitment to Jesus.

VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE EVER SPENT

··· any time time, really, thinking about “how” they live or what the consequences will be tomorrow for the choices they make today.

IF SOMEONE ASKED YOU TO EXPLAIN

··· how you know you are a Christian, what would you say?

MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE –

··· I go to church regularly; I believe in God; or I try to live a good life

IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER TO ANSWER–

··· I believe Jesus allowed for my salvation; I have accepted Jesus as the leader of my life; or I have faith that Jesus is the ONLY Redeemer

MOST PEOPLE DON’T ANSWER THAT WAY

··· because they apply their faith only where it is easy and convenient.

IT IS EASIER TO IGNORE FAITH