Are you an inquisitive person? Do you ask lots of questions? Are you a person who plans out your day or week? Do you have a 5-year and 10-year plan? Do you like to keep up on all the latest news? Does it frustrate you when you are surprised by an unexpected event?
Most of us like to plan how we are going to spend our time. Some of us only plan the next hour or two while others like to plan out weeks, months, or years. Planning has become a professional requirement, if you are in a white-collar job.
Some of us constantly seek to know more about what interests us. We may want to know more about celebrities, sports figures, world news, national news, or what is going on in our community. We look for information on the internet, in newspapers, on the radio, or on television.
When we combine being inquisitive with planning, we have a very organized person. Often, we think that person has their life together. We look at that person and think, “Wow! I wish I was like that.” Unfortunately, there is one event none of us know when it will happen.
Jesus tells the apostles (and us) that no one knows when He will return. Not the angels. Not even Him. Only the Father knows when that will happen. If Jesus doesn’t know when He will return, how can we know or listen to anyone else who thinks they know?
What can we do? We can plan for His return. We can follow Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. We can adhere to His teaching. We can follow His example. We can love every person as He loves them. We can treat every person with respect. We can tell others about Him. We can learn more about Him in order to become more like Him. We can prepare ourselves for His return.
Here’s the thing, regardless of whether He returns before we die or not, we are going to meet Him. It is inevitable. The final judgment will take place. We will spend eternity in one of two places. What we do in this life to prepare for eternity will determine where we spend it.
Make no mistake about it—Jesus will return. We will all stand with Him or against Him. Our lives are the time we have been given to prepare for that moment. We cannot accurately predict it. After all, the Jews had all the prophecy concerning when Jesus would come the first time and the vast majority missed it. So, let’s prepare for His second coming each day. Let’s all stand ready to see Him face-to-face.
I pray we all prepare for Jesus’ return. I pray we determine to follow Him. I pray each one of us choose to learn about Him and prepare ourselves for eternity. Read about Jesus. Follow His example. Prepare for eternity. Know where you will spend it.
Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Marty Pressey 