Revelation 16
“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Revelation 16:15 NIV
Christ will return unexpectedly, so we all need to be ready. “The day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). What does it look like when someone is prepared and ready for Jesus to return? We can look at the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins as an example (see Matthew 25:1-13). The wise virgins had oil for their lamps just in case Jesus returned at night. They were prepared to meet Him and join Him no matter when He came. To have oil in your lamp is symbolic of having the Holy Spirit in your life. As believers, we all have the Holy Spirit with us, but whether we listen to Him and follow His ways is up to us. We either make an effort to be attentive and obedient to Him as we go through life, or we fall asleep, so to speak, and stop listening for His guidance. “So then, let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). Here are a few practical examples of what we can do to be ready for Jesus’ return:
Stand firm in temptation, so we are not led astray. When He returns we want to be found on His path, living the life He expects from us as His dedicated followers. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Endure all temptations by leaning on and relying on God’s help.
Stay committed to God’s moral standards. The Christian life is an endurance race, with many potential pitfalls of distraction along the way. As believers, we commit our lives to following Jesus and doing life His way. “…Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
Continue to do good deeds and encourage the Christians around you to do the same. “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Worship Him joyfully. This may mean praising the Lord through music, or worshiping Him through: prayer, Bible Study, giving, serving, obeying, sharing the Gospel, living a life of gratitude, or loving others. However we choose to worship God, it should definitely be something that we do on a daily basis, and not just when we go to church.
Wait peacefully. No one can know exactly when Jesus will return, but we are expected to remain peaceful and attentive while we wait. Remember that God has perfect timing, and one day the reason behind His timing of events will be revealed to us.
In what ways does your life show either your readiness or your lack of preparation for Christ’s return? If He returned today, what would He think about the things you are currently involved in? If you are not fully ready for His return, ask for His help and guidance to get you on the right path. While we wait patiently and attentively, we must all strive to: “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:16, NLT).