Take It Seriously.

Last night I went to hear a good friend of mine preach at the church that he and his wife are attending. He gave a wonderful challenge to take the return of Christ seriously. He essentially wanted us to see that we do not really live as though Christ could seriously return before you are done reading this or before you take your next breath! Through God's Word he showed us three actions that a person who takes the return of Christ seriously will evident in their life.
First, he took us to Philippians 2:16-18; 2 Peter 3:11-12. He stated that a person who is serious about the return of Christ will rejoice in anticipation. Paul and Peter both were rejoicing in anticipation of Christ's return. Paul rejoiced in the return of Christ because he had opportunity to serve God and be doing that when He came. Peter asked what kind of people we should be based on know what is going to happen to this world and then said he was looking forward and desiring to hasten the coming of the Lord. I was posed with a question of my own life. "When was the last time I felt so excited and filled with joy when I thought of the return of Christ?" I know that I can become excited and joyful about a lot of things, but the return of Christ...I do not think about it as I should. Many times the reason why I am not thinking about it is because I have a strong grip on this worlds things and activities. I need to release that grip and rejoice in anticipations.
Second, he took us to Romans 13:11-12; Mark 13:32. He stated that a person who is serious about the return of Christ will renew our sense of urgency. Paul wrote to the Romans basically that the time of the return could be any minute and they needed to "wake up and get to work!" Paul challenged them to get rid of the works of darkness and get to work because Christ may return at any time. Mark says a similar thing in that he wants them to be alert. I was posed with a couple of questions that are similar here as I was thinking about this. "How do I use my time?" He asked us, "Would I be more likely to be reading God's Word or watching tv when Christ returns? Would I be more likely to be praying or eating/preparing food when Christ returns? Would I be more likely to be sharing the gospel or committing a sinful act when Christ returns?" These were all hard questions for me to answer because I am not doing or being what God wants me to do when I should, now. I was convicted about my lack of urgency about the things of God. I need to renew my sense of urgency.
Third, he took us to 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9; 1 Peter 1:13. He stated that a person who is serious about the return of Christ will replace apathy with sobriety. Paul is urging these people, and us, to be sober. Peter is also challenging us to be sober in our minds. They are not wanting us to let anything hinder our thinking so that we may be completely focused. We cannot just go through life not focused on the return of Christ. It needs to be our goal, what we are aiming for. We need to be working towards that goal. I was posed with this question "Where is my focus?" Is my life showing, evidenting that I am focused on the return of Christ? My life is focused on a lot of temporal things more often than it is focused on the eternal. I am needing to put my attention and focus on eternal things, which will last for eternity. Colossians 3:2 say "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." I need to replace my apathy with sobriety.
What about you? Are you one who takes the return of Christ seriously?

Press ON!

(Thanks Tim)