Preparing For His Return

Revelation 22: 12 -  “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Have you taken the time to think about this recently? Jesus Christ is coming back to earth soon. Thinking about this brings a few questions to mind. Questions like: a

m I ready for His return? When He returns, how will He find me? What will be the answer I give Him? I’m sure these are also questions that you may find yourself thinking of too.

Jesus is Coming Back Soon!

The mere thought of having to account for something can be terrifying, especially if you know that you haven’t looked after things properly. That is exactly where many of us find ourselves in so many areas of life, but Jesus tells us that He will reward us according to what we have done. So what have we done with what He has given us? We can only answer this once we know what exactly He left in our care. 

What Did Christ Leave Us?

After redeeming us through the sacrifice on the cross, and resurrecting from the dead, Christ left one last assignment to His disciples - make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. 

Matthew 28:18 - 19:  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Often this scripture is misread and many times simplified to this message instead: ‘tell the world Jesus loves them and came to die for them’. Hear me out, this message in itself is not wrong, however it is not the fullest representation of what Christ asked us to do. 

He did not ask us to ‘tell the world’ alone, He asked us to ‘make disciples, baptise them and teach them to obey everything He had commanded.’

 That means two things: 

1. We must know and obey what Christ commanded His early disciples. 

2. We must teach what Christ commanded His early disciples. 

Are you with me so far? Good, now let’s take a deeper look at this.

The best way for the world to learn everything Christ has commanded is by observation and then practice. Paul understood this and asked the church to imitate him as he imitates Christ. When the world sees you and I living out everything that Christ taught His disciples, that is how they will learn and then become His disciples too. 

Here’s the point:

#The world will not learn the way of Christ if we do not live this out!

When Christ returns, we will have to answer for what we have done with this instruction to teach the world to obey His commands. We are to be the light everywhere we are, and through this teach the way of Christ to the lost. This is a much bigger task than telling someone ‘Jesus loves you’, and certainly one that requires the Holy Spirit for us to walk like Jesus did. 

The Holy Spirit Teaches and Prepares You

The Holy Spirit teaches us all things, only if we are willing to learn. He will teach us how to live according to the commands of Christ. The reality is, He is always speaking to us, and when we are still enough and close enough to Him, we hear His voice. The Holy Spirit is not in some distant country or land, no He is inside of you, much closer to you than the air you breathe. 

Why is it hard to hear Him sometimes? - because we don’t acknowledge His presence, or perhaps we don’t even ask Him anything. If we are to be taught by Him, it is critical that we make room for Him and ask Him to speak to us.

The Holy Spirit also prepares us. A brilliant example of this preparation is what we see in the Book of Esther. Esther had to go through a twelve month process of being prepared to meet King Ahasuerus, a man. If this was for an earthly king, how much more the King of the Universe. We must always be prepared to meet Him. The Holy Spirit in us beautifies us and transforms us to look like our King, if only we are willing to keep in step with the Spirit. 

How Are You Preparing for His Return?

How can you prepare for the return of the King? The answer is effective stewardship under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and right standing with the King - righteousness.

Matthew 24:45-47

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.”

The reality is many people do not know that God has entrusted something into their hands - a call to live like Christ did. Scripture on many occasions paints a picture of an owner and a manager. God is the owner and we His children (saved or unsaved) are created to manage what He has given us. 

In Luke’s account of this same parable, he highlights this point, a question Peter also had. 

Luke 12:41 - Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all”.

Jesus answers Peter later on in verse 47 saying “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating.”

In our preparation we must always reflect and ask ourselves:

• Am I seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness?Am I living in obedience to the will of God? 

• Am I bearing His image - looking like Him?

• Am I taking charge of everything He has entrusted into my hand, just like He takes charge of His creation?

• Am I multiplying and bringing forth fruit that pleases God?

As You Prepare Count Your Costs

Before following Him, Jesus tells us to count our costs. The principle here is that effective preparation accounts for costs. You must anticipate the costs that come from living in the will of God if you want to be well prepared. You must be aware and ready to forsake your own will, desires and even your own life, for the sake of living out His will. Your foresight is necessary when it comes to walking with God, you must be ready to surrender your very self to Him at any given moment.

The parable of the ten virgins highlights this same principle. The five wise virgins anticipated that they may need extra oil if the bridegroom was delayed. They thought about it, they were intentional about their preparation to meet the bridegroom. Likewise we too are called to be intentional about our search for the Kingdom of God and for living out His will. 

Summary

We are to prepare ourselves as we wait on His return. 

This is what it can look like:

• Invest and claim territories for our King as we step out as ambassadors of Christ, being the light in every dark space. 

• Keep our lamps burning through continuous fellowship with the Holy Spirit who revives and sanctifies us.

• Washing our garments, through His word and living in righteousness and holiness. 

That is how you prepare for the arrival of the King! Do His will, wash your garment and fellowship with His Spirit! 

Revelation 22:14 - “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” 

Represent Him Always