Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. Mark 13:35-36
The most important truth for all believers with regards to the second coming of Christ is that we must be personally prepared and ready for Jesus’ return. In 2 Peter 3:1-9, the apostle Peter speaks of the certainty of the second coming. He warns that in the last days, there will be scoffers who question, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
Peter then goes on to say: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?” (2 Pet. 3:10-11).
What manner of person should we be in our preparation for Jesus’ return? Peter says, “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:14). Three qualities are mentioned here:
First of all, be found by Him in peace. In order to be at peace with God, we have to walk in obedience to His commandments and to His purpose for our lives. The Bible exhorts us to “pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
Secondly, be found by Him without spot. Here, the prepared believer is likened to a garment that is without stain or blemish. Our spiritual garment speaks of our outward behavior and visible conduct that reflect our inward spiritual condition. Conversion may be a one-time experience, but salvation is a lifelong process. It is not enough just to be justified or declared righteous by God through the death of Jesus on the cross. You need to be sanctified or made righteous by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit daily. That is a progressive, continuous transformation.
Thirdly, be found by Him blameless. That means that there is nothing in our personal work and pursuits that anyone can fault. There is no guile, ulterior motive or hypocrisy in whatever we do. In order to be found blameless at Jesus’ coming, we must always do everything for the glory of God and not for the praise of man. Are you ready and prepared for Jesus’ second coming?
The most important truth for all believers with regards to the second coming of Christ is that we must be personally prepared and ready for Jesus’ return. In 2 Peter 3:1-9, the apostle Peter speaks of the certainty of the second coming. He warns that in the last days, there will be scoffers who question, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
Peter then goes on to say: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?” (2 Pet. 3:10-11).
What manner of person should we be in our preparation for Jesus’ return? Peter says, “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:14). Three qualities are mentioned here:
First of all, be found by Him in peace. In order to be at peace with God, we have to walk in obedience to His commandments and to His purpose for our lives. The Bible exhorts us to “pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
Secondly, be found by Him without spot. Here, the prepared believer is likened to a garment that is without stain or blemish. Our spiritual garment speaks of our outward behavior and visible conduct that reflect our inward spiritual condition. Conversion may be a one-time experience, but salvation is a lifelong process. It is not enough just to be justified or declared righteous by God through the death of Jesus on the cross. You need to be sanctified or made righteous by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit daily. That is a progressive, continuous transformation.
Thirdly, be found by Him blameless. That means that there is nothing in our personal work and pursuits that anyone can fault. There is no guile, ulterior motive or hypocrisy in whatever we do. In order to be found blameless at Jesus’ coming, we must always do everything for the glory of God and not for the praise of man. Are you ready and prepared for Jesus’ second coming?
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