Behavior with Regard to the Second Coming of Christ.
Friday, December 29, 2017 at 06:45AM 
NEWS DRIVES COMMERCE. A tsunami of activity ensues whenever a person of great influence speaks. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve can cause the NYSE to rise or fall 300 points by simply making a statement. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff can speak about our military preparedness, and the news reverberates throughout the world. An off-the-cuff remark by the President can send the media into orbit. Almost everyone who is a little bit up to date with the news has heard about certain global events. We know people we’ve never met, we know about places we’ve never been, and we know about events that have no connection to us in our little locale.
Why report the news? We report it because the news of the day has consequences; otherwise it would be of no value. First, it informs our feelings how to feel. Good news brings rejoicing; bad news causes sadness and alarm. Second, we base our decisions and actions on the news of the day. Warnings of storms incite a flurry of preparation. Reports of political news shape our votes. Financial news determines how we handle our money. It’s news, news, news. But, if I were the head of the newsroom at ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, NYT, WP, USAToday or any other news outlet, this is the headline that I would put out every day: The Bible Proclaims that Jesus Is Coming Again!
The angels declare it. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11. The signs point toward it. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:4-8. The saints will be changed. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. The church will be raptured. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
How do the unprepared respond to these warnings? Some allow themselves to be deceived. 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Some indulge in gross sin and disobedience. 2 Timothy 3:1-4. Some compromise the authenticity of the power. 2 Timothy 3:4-7. Some deny that it will happen. 2 Peter 3:3. Some fall asleep. Matthew 25:4-6. Some waste their opportunities. Matthew 25:17-18.
How should you respond to the second coming? You must live according to the scripture. Titus 2:11-13. You must keep material things in perspective. 2 Peter 3:9-11. You must fight against spiritual sleepiness. Romans 13:11-14. You must continue to love the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12. You must take comfort in the promise. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18. How will He find you when He comes, and what will He find you doing?
Behave today as though you were assured of the imminent return of Christ for His Church.
Reader Comments (1)
THAT - is the best "If I were ....." - I've ever heard/read, i.e., Wizard of Oz, "If I were King", Bert Lahr, 1939).