In the past few days, interesting content has popped onto my YouTube feed. I say interesting because these videos have spoken about Jesus’s return, and some of them have gone ahead to suggest roughly what year that will be. Before you roll your eyes and dismiss this post with “nobody knows the day or the hour,” (which, like you, I believe!) hear me out.
As I watched the videos, and heard how close to the current year (2024) that these predictions are, I found myself wondering . . . what if they’re right, and Jesus’s return is that near? Am I watching out for the signs He said would precede His return? Am I being a wise and faithful servant? Am I living in the way that Jesus said I should live? Am I pursuing the things of the world, or am I pursuing things related to the Kingdom of Heaven? Am I living as though His return is a far-off event, and putting myself at risk of being caught unaware when He comes back? Will I be one of the wise or foolish virgins on His return?
Weighty questions! And I find myself sighing as I share these thoughts because I can’t say that I am living as one who is aware that the King is coming soon.
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
Mark 13:35–37 (NIV)
So in addition to the new actions I purposed to take recently, I include a new prayer,
“Our Father and our God, only You know when Jesus’s return is. I am not living in a way that has my focus on Your Kingdom and being found ready. There are so many distractions all around me! So many things for me to pursue so I can survive here. I need Your power and strength to stay awake and do the things that Jesus said I should be doing. I would like to be found ready on Jesus’s return. Help me, Lord. Do a new thing in me and change my heart’s desires. I ask in the name of Jesus.”
I am encouraged to know that God answers all prayers that are according to His will, so He will prepare me. He will prepare you too, if you ask Him. Consider praying the above prayer.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 1:24 (NIV)