Readiness for Christ’s coming – Part 1

If ever there is a better time to call people to make intent preparation for heaven, it is on a day like this when the whole world, especially the church of Jesus Christ, is celebrating Easter.

Easter marks the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. He laid the foundation of Christianity for all times. It is a celebration that brings hope to all men, assuring all those who are willing that the price for their redemption and reconciliation with God, the only sacrifice acceptable to God to wash away the sins of mankind, has been accomplished. All, therefore, can come and receive forgiveness, pardon and cleansing of their sins, and get ready for the return of the Lord.

The coming of the Lord is imminent and believers are admonished to be ready. The world is full of darkness and unrighteousness. But when one receives the gospel, he is transformed. Grace teaches, trains and transforms him to be righteous, sober and godly in this present world. When grace comes to us, the past is forgotten, forgiven and changed, and the present is renewed. Grace also prepares us for the future.

Many of the initial recipients of the grace of God did not see Christ physically. Thus, they eagerly look forward to seeing and meeting Him eventually in heaven. They are now, “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

The second coming of the Lord had been prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ spoke about it. He said: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself,” John 14:2,3. This event is called the rapture of saints.

Jesus also spoke of the Great Tribulation – a period of unprecedented suffering on earth for sinners and backsliders who fail to go with the Lord at the rapture. Meanwhile, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be going on in heaven during the Great Tribulation. After this period, Christ will come again with the saints to reign for 1,000 years on earth. Since the rapture will be unannounced, the Lord calls on all believers to get ready.

Those who are not born again and sanctified are not ready for His coming. No one can predict the date, or time of year when the Lord will come. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” If there were no possibilities of anyone missing the rapture, there would have been no need for the warning or command to get ready. To see the Lord when He comes, we must remain “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8), maintain “clean hands, and … not (lift) up (our) soul unto vanity,” Psalm 24:4. We should also declare the Word that saves us from ruin and eternal judgment, and we should prepare people for the coming of the Lord.

Believers are not saved and transformed to remain here on earth forever. The purpose is to prepare them for the coming of the Lord. We need to get ready, desire and look for that blessed appearance of our Lord. It is natural for a bride to desire strongly for the return of her bridegroom, who had gone on a long journey. Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is the bridegroom. The Church is the bride waiting for the coming of the bridegroom.

In a family, the wife keeps herself pure while waiting for her husband and prepares in every way necessary for his return. Christ is coming for the purchased, purified bride. Although, we are here on earth, “our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Sadly, not everyone looks forward to Christ’s return to take His people home. Some are so busy with businesses and the things of the world that they do not long for the coming of the Lord even though they are religious. But “unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time.”

• Further reading (King James Version): Titus 2:11-15; Matthew 24:21,22; Revelation 19:6-9; Matthew 24:29,30,42,44; 25:10-13; Mark 13:31-37; Luke 12:37,40; 21:34-36; Revelation 16:15; Titus 2:13; Philippians 3:20,21; Hebrews 9:26-28; 11:10,14-16; 2 Peter 3:11-14; Jude 21,24; Revelation 1:7,8; 2:25,26; 3:11,12; 16:15; 22:7,12,20.