When I was a young boy, I remember listening to adults talking about how we must be living in the last days.  How could things become any worse?  Jesus’s return will no doubt be very soon, and God’s judgement will come.   Every generation of Christians, I believe, have felt these sentiments when evaluating things in the light of scripture and holiness.  I remember Dr. Billy Graham say, when he was a much younger man, “I believed I will see the return of Jesus in my lifetime.” He still may as he is still living but you understand my point.  I understand there will be a final judgement someday, but we must remember there is a judgement that has already happened, and it was the reason Jesus, God’s Son, came the first time.  For God did not send his Son into the the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is CONDEMNED ALREADY,  because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  John3:17-18 ESV   The final judgment will be the sentencing process for what has already been determined unless a person has received a pardon / substitute through Jesus by repenting and asking to be forgiven / pardoned of their crimes against God.  So, here I am, an adult and I think, His return no doubt will be very soon.  Why do I think this?  Because in light of the scriptures and Holiness, we have waxed much worse.  2 Timothy 3:2-5 sounds like a story from a news commentator who viewed the world situation last week and reported on it.  But the reality is, generations from now people may be saying when I was a little boy people thought Jesus’s return could be any day.  It is a dangerous way to think if it causes you to grow complacent in living daily with the anticipation of His return.  He is coming again because He said He would, and He does not lie.  He has done and will complete everything He said he would.  So how should we live as Christians until his return.

WITH ANTICIPATION:

     Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms.  If it were not so , would I have told you the I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will COME AGAIN and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3 ESV  Wrap your mind around this…. YOU are going to LIVE with JESUS.  Meditate on this, Jesus, God’s Son knows you by name and has made it possible for you to be forgiven of all your crimes against God.  As a result God will pardon you because you have a Savior … His Son who took your sentence upon Himself when He died on the cross.  You are forgiven and ready to take up residence not to a prison but God’s house…. WOW!!!!

WITH MISSION:

             We tell the message just as the angel tells the message,  Fear not, for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2: 10-11 ESV  

     We have a mission and purpose for living… God is not finished with us yet; our room is not ready.  Our purpose in living is to invite as many as we can to come join in the celebration of God and His Son.  It is his will for us to do this until He returns and calls us home.

WITH DAILY FOCUS:

        There are times we focus so much on the future that we can become burdened in the present with things for which we have no control.  This is not how we are told to live. Jesus said, “ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things,  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 NKJV   

    Live each day with the anticipation of His return by sharing this message with everyone you possibly can, and live for the day that you are in, for you have not been guaranteed tomorrow.  —At least not on this earth.

 Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David