If Jesus would come back now what would He find you doing? Where would you be?
Now, not neccessarily where you are "physically", but what "state" would He find your heart in? Where is your heart's
"focus"?
Is your heart right with God? Are you living for Him? Or is your life all about "what you want to do", rather than asking
God what His plan is for your life? His will?
Now as some, or even yourself, may read this? This may be found to be "uncomfortable". Even "challenging". And challenging
it should be!
You see Jesus is coming back some day, we all know this!
Now there are those who try and "predict" His coming. And anytime we hear someone predict His coming, they are WRONG!
Only God the Father knows when this will be:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who
left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
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. And what I say to you, I say
to all: Watch!”
(Mark 13:32-37 NKJV)
With this said though, we need to understand that it is important that we are (found) right before God.
You see Jesus could come back at any time. And it is important that we be found living for Him. Why? Because as
sons and daughters of God we are called to follow Him (Luke 9:23). We are called to do His will (Matthew 28:19, John 12:26)!
We are called to be "serious" about our faith!!
And if we turn our backs on Him, and become like the "rest" of the world, it could destroy us:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who
does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your
name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I
never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
(John 7:21-23 NKJV)
You see we all know in our "heart of hearts" (so to speak) if we are right before God!
Our hearts either "excuse" us, or condemn us:
"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that
we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart,
and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God."
(1 John 3:18-21 NKJV)
And all of us, hopefully will be found living, for, and following Him!
You see God loves all of us. He gave His only Son that we may forgiven, and live eternally with Him (John 3:16).
But saying, "I believe" is more than just a "word." It's a way of life! It means that I have put my
trust in Him:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life."
(John 3:16 NKJV)
Now we all know what John 3:16 says! But how many of us really understand the meaning, that is the "intention",
that John the apostle was writing this with?
Well, for most of us, we will take it at "face value", and yes, it does mean, what it means! But what many do not know,
is that the word *believe in the Greek Bible, as it was written, means "to trust", to "commit to trust", "put in trust with":
*Believe (strongs 4100 GR) -Pisteuo -pist-yoo'-o
-to commit to trust, put in trust with (especially in matters of faith), entrust with.
Now if we really have "commited to trust", "put our trust" in Jesus, than
we would take our faith serious! Would we not? Afterall, I can say I "believe" in anything, but it does not mean that
I necessarily put my trust there! Does it now?
Take this for example. I can "say" that I believe Jesus is who He says He is. But it does not necessarily mean that I
have "put my trust" in Him as Lord and Savior!
Afterall, as James the apostle said, "even the demons believe and tremble":
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!"
(James 2:19 NKJV)
You see we all need to really examine oursleves. Are we ready for His coming? If He came back right now, would we be
ready? Counted worthy to go with Him?
Now we know that it is not our works that save us, only Jesus' sacrifice can (Eph. 2:8). He did this on the cross
(1 Colossians 1:20)!
But how we live our lives really shows if we TRULY have put our "faith" (i.e. "trust") in Him:
"Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith,
and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You
believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish
man, that faith without works is dead?"
(James 2:17-20 NKJV )
You see we all have some kind of "works" coming from us. They are either good, or they are not:
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known
by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man
out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth
evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
(Luke 6:43-45 NKJV)
Now, none of us are perfect, only God is! We all make mistakes. We fall "short" sometimes. We sin! But it's important
that when we do "fall down", that we get back up and keep going!! We keep following the Lord, we persevere in
our faith (Romans 2:6-7)!!!
Afterall, anytime we "fall" and we sincerely turn back to Him. He will take us back:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(1 John 1:9 NKJV)
The question for all of us is this though, what kind of fruit is coming from our lives? Is it good "fruit", or is
not? You see the way we live our lives, is a "living" testimony to what we REALLY Believe!
You see we all have to examine ourselves in the "mirror", and answer this truthfully:
"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that
Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified."
(2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV)
We all know in "our heart of hearts", if we are, or not!
So ask yourself today, "am I living for Him, am I ready for Jesus to come back, or not???
And heres some food for thought:
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food
in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say
to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying
his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master
of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and
will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth."
(Matthew 24:45-51 NKJV)
And:
"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith
on the earth?”
(Luke 18:8 KJV)
