Anticipating Christ’s Coming
As Christians we look forward to the Rapture when Christ comes to bring us to heaven and save us from the coming tribulation. In Matthew 24 Jesus gave His disciples three attitudes that they should hold while anticipating His return:
1. Keep Watch (Matthew 24: 37–42)
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered the ark. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”
(Matthew 24:37–42)
In the days of Noah before the flood, people laughed at Noah and continued with their lives like nothing was going to happen. It was business as usual until the day Noah entered the ark and it started to rain. Even after watching Noah build the Ark for 120 years and preaching to them, no one in the entire world other than Noah’s family entered the ark. The attitude of the people was set on doing whatever they wanted regardless of what God wanted from them.
When the rapture occurs, Jesus said, “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left”
(Matthew 24:40–41).
The attitude of watchfulness means to be expectant, being aware of the times we live in, paying attention to what’s happening.
2. Be Ready
“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” (Matthew 24: 43–44)
If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Jesus is not comparing himself to a thief but is just showing us that like a thief we don’t know the day or hour he will come.
To be ready means to be assured of our salvation in Christ. Asking Him to wash away our sins and making us faithful members of His family. Pray for His return. Serve Him faithfully.
“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready”
(Luke 12:35–38).
“Be dressed for service” means keep on serving the Lord and “keep your lamps burning” signifies our need to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. It implies that we walk and are led by the Spirit of God in our daily lives.
3. Be Faithful
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions”
(Matthew 24:45-47).
A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
A faithful, sensible servant is the true believer that serves the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. Every believer is a servant of the Lord and is expected to serve the Lord in every way.
Every true believer has received new life, talents, and gifts from God to work for Christ on earth faithfully. Doing good works in Jesus’ name brings glory to God.
If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. The master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.
When Jesus returns for His church, every believer that is faithfully serving God with be rewarded and will be put in charge of all God’s possessions. He will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Jonathan Cortes