So, what’s next after celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection? The Bible counsels every child of God to prepare for their future meeting with Jesus. We know from Acts chapter 1 verse 11, several days after Jesus’ resurrection, He ascended to heaven. And right after He ascended to heaven, His disciples were still looking up to the sky when two angels came and told them, “11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
The angels said, Jesus will come again the same way He ascended. Somehow the angels were saying that believers should anticipate and prepare for His 2nd coming. We just don’t know exactly when that will happen. It may or may not be in our lifetime. But just the same, we need to prepare because our future as believers is to be with Jesus forever. There are three suggestions that I’m asking you to consider today.
1. Take Jesus more seriously.
“36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” Matthew 24:36-41.
· Jesus is coming again to judge all wickedness, (see Rev. 19) and come to reward God’s children for their work done for His glory.
2 Corinthians 5:10, “10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
· Thus, we need to prepare for His coming.
2. Make a conscious effort to live according to His Word.
“15 “If you love me, keep my commands… 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:15, 18-19.
· Jesus required a conscious effort to live according to His commandments.
· We behave according to our belief.
· Jesus promised to come for His true believers.
“13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” 1 Peter 1:13-17.
· We are advised to be conscious of what we think and do.
· We have to be conscious to the fact that we will meet Jesus someday.
· We should live according to our identity as children of God.
3. Leave a legacy of godliness for others to follow.
“13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” Galatians 5:13-17.
· We have to do what we can under the circumstances.
· God is asking us to do things in love for God and others.
· Christians should shine in this crisis.
“22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
· We have to start doing what we know is biblically right.
· The time to prepare for our future is now before He comes.
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