When I try to tell people the LORD’s request to warn them that HE is coming, I am met so often with these responses (even so often from church-going Christians):
-I know JESUS is coming someday, but I don’t need to watch—when HE comes I am ready…
-People have been saying that for years HE is coming and HE never has…
-No one knows the day or the hour, so I guess it is not for me to worry….
If you are saying these things you are MISSING THE WHOLE POINT OF CHRISTIANITY and YOU ARE ACTUALLY OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD!
How can I say this? All because of ONE specific verse in the Bible:
2 Timothy 4:8 (KJV): Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (Other translations read: but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing OR but also to all who have longed for his appearing.)
Watching eagerly for CHRIST’s return is nonsense to those who have other worldly things seated on the throne of their hearts like the pursuit of wealth, entertainment, career, acquiring possessions… This would mean you are in a lukewarm position with GOD—not a good place to be according to Revelation 3:16 (KJV): So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (KJV): For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. AND THEN: 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV): Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but LET US WATCH AND BE SOBER.
Someday when you face JESUS (and everyone will as stated in Romans 14:12 (KJV): So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God) I would hate to admit that I was not longing (and watching) for HIS appearing.
Repeatedly, the Bible implores the Follower of CHRIST to WATCH for HIS Return. We are to watch BECAUSE we do not know the hour of HIS Return—but we do know the signs to watch for (and we will know the season) and because the signs are all here and now, how much more do these scriptures also apply to us now?
1 Peter 4:7 (KJV): But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Mark 13:32-38 (KJV): 32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33TAKE HEED, WATCH AND PRAY: for ye know not when the time is. 34For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter TO WATCH. 35WATCH YE therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, WATCH.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-7 (KJV): 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6THEREFORE LET US NOT SLEEP; BUT LET US WATCH AND BE SOBER. 7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
Luke 12:36-40 (KJV): 36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS, WHOM THE LORD WHEN HE COMETH SHALL FIND WATCHING: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, HE WOULD HAVE WATCHED, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Luke 12:43-47 (KJV): 43Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Revelation 3:3 (KJV): Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not WATCH, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Finally, Hebrews 12:2 implores the Follower of CHRIST to keep his gaze or eyes fixed on JESUS. How can you do that and at the same time ignore/disregard the signs outlined in the Bible to watch for signaling the return of CHRIST that are even now coming together? Can you agree with one part of the Bible and not the other? I strongly suggest that you cannot and still be in the Will of GOD.
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV): Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Other translations say: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus).
