By Pastora Monique Lopez Ong
What are you really waiting for? Many people wait for something only for themselves. They are waiting for a promotion, a new house or maybe an increase in salary. But what is the greatest wait of your life? If you are a prayer warrior and a Bible reading Christian, this is something important to you. It is the second coming of Jesus Christ.
But how come some are not excited for this? Jesus said it Himself. He did not hide it. If you read the Bible, He said He will return in the book of Acts. He said He will go ahead to prepare a place for us. This is what we should be waiting for.
So what is the second coming of Jesus Christ? John 3:16 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” He came to earth to fulfill what was written in the Word. He came to save us. There is no requirement for salvation. Jesus died for all of our sins. Our God came down to earth as a man, walked on it, showed us how to live and did what no one else could do. He paid for our sins by dying on the cross. It was finished in Calvary. And if you believe this, you know where you are going.
Matthew 24:3-14 says, “Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” That is why we know that we are seeing the signs of God. This has to be said because some are waiting while sleeping. The end is near. Are you ready?
Do you know when Jesus will actually return? It is written in the Bible. No one knows! 1 Thessalonians 5:2 says, “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.” Just like a thief who enters your house - if you knew he was coming, then you could have prevented it. Matthew 24;36-39 says, “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. “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 his boat. 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.” This is how it will be on the coming of the Son.
But God gave clues so that you can be prepared. The signs of the times are at hand. So how will He return? Acts 1:9-11 says, “After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” Jesus will return the same way He left. He will come down from the clouds, as mentioned in Revelation 1:7-8. It says, “Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” This is what we are excited about - to see Jesus come down from the clouds.
There is a big wait and we are still waiting. But we are in the exciting part. Many wait not knowing what they are waiting for. When Jesus comes, time is up. Everything else is useless. Everything you are striving for will be useless. So what must you do while you wait?
Repent - for the Kingdom of God is here. If you are doing something wrong, come back. Be sorry for your sins and turn to God. Acts 3:19-21 says, “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” The presence of God is moving across the globe. And the young people are on the move. He is coming again, but we need to learn to repent. Revive your spirit. Turn to God.
Stay awake - Matthew 25:13 says, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” The parable of the 10 virgins say why. The kingdoms of heaven will be like 10 virgins. Why virgins? Because He is talking about a bride who wants to meet the bridegroom, Jesus Christ. The lamp is an external representation of Christianity. The oil is your intimacy with Jesus. You can carry your lamps ahead of you, going to church every Sunday, attending your dgroup, but you have no oil. It is the cultivation of your relationship with God that manifests in your life. Many only carry a lamp without oil in it. The oil of the 5 wise virgins cannot be passed to the 5 foolish ones because their relationship with Christ is their own. You have to cultivate it on your own. You want to stay awake? Stay close.
A. Stay close - John 15:4-5 tells you to remain in the Lord as He remains in you. You do not remain in Him during the weekends when you are at church, but when issues surface in your life, you are suddenly far from Him. He is the vine ad you are the branches. Apart from Him, you can do nothing. But if you are not ready, you will not be ready for His presence.
B. Follow His command - Matthew 28 is the Great Commission. Jesus asked you to spread the gospel everywhere and make disciples. You are not just supposed to go to church on Sunday. Bring a friend because they too need to hear the word of God. When are you going to take action?
C. Pray - Prayer is our weapon. Do it with an alert mind. Stay awake and pray.
3. Be ready - 1 Peter 1:13 says, “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” Luke 12:40 says, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” If you feel like it is not yet the time, then the time is at hand. How ready are you? Are you giving your bodies to the Lord? How pure are you for God? How is your relationship with others? How is your relationship with God?
God wants you to build your stamina for Him because He is coming. If you are not ready, you will not be able to receive from Him because it is going to be too intense. He is coming soon. Revelations 22:12-13 says, “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” He will give a reward when He returns. Are you excited? Or are you concerned? The greatest wait of our life is the coming of Jesus Christ. It has already taken thousands of years. But we still have to wait expectantly. How ready are you?