Jesus is coming back – and living this truth about the future can change the way we live in the present. This is why God tells us about the future before it happens – not so that we live in fear, but so that we live with confidence, and see all the troubles and trials of today in light of His eternity. Jesus is coming back to earth, and His truth and justice will reign.
So He tells us to keep watch, to live in a “watchful” way. This means I am aware that Jesus is coming, and I am willing to suffer as I wait, and I work for His Kingdom come now – I am His emissary and ambassador, preparing the world for her coming King. Jesus is living in me through His Holy Spirit – an early presence of the Kingdom on earth now. I need to keep watch.
He tells us to be ready – like a good servant in a house who can be trusted. Jesus could come back at any moment – so I need to watch my life and conduct, my words and thoughts – so that when He comes back He will find me working for the Kingdom come. Of course, God is always with me and watching me, too! Jesus is coming back, and He will gather the ones who love Him into the clouds with Him, this is known as the “rapture”; we will not be leaving earth, but staying here with Him – this is His world, and He is the King.
We don’t have to be afraid, but we can live expectantly. We can know that there is more to this world than what is in front of our eyes now. We can know the future plan, in part, and that change change everything about how we live now. This is HOPE, and it changes everything.
Read the verses: http://biblehub.com/nlt/matthew/24.htm
