But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20)
There is a couple my husband once mentioned in one of his sermons at church. Their lives were so marked by the consciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ’s return, that their default response to almost anything was, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Imagine that. While many of us have reflex replies like “it is well” or “no problem,” “no wahala” “tor”…. theirs was a longing cry for His appearing.
I often wonder about that kind of heart posture. Perhaps they had tasted enough of this world to know that nothing compares to the glory that is to come. Or perhaps they simply lived with such clarity of eternity that every earthly pursuit paled in comparison.
Yet, if we are honest, we do not hear much talk today about the second coming of Christ. We fill our pulpits and our conversations with many important things; faith, purpose, healing, prosperity, even church growth. But rarely do we pause on this truth: Christ is coming again.
I think one reason we don’t hear much about Christ’s return is that many people don’t feel ready for it. Some preachers may even feel unqualified to speak about it and can you blame them? Even I, every day and especially as I write this, find myself constantly asking for mercy.If you grew up in Nigeria, you probably have a million and one reasons to believe there are countless ways to end up in the lake of fire, including something as small as not returning a matchstick.
I believe that regardless of how we feel, whether we think we are prepared or not, the second coming of Christ is something we must talk about. Scripture instructs us to speak of the Word in our daily lives, as we rise, as we walk, and as we lie down: ‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).
Not talking about His return will not make us feel any less unready, and it certainly won’t make us more ready. On the other hand, consistently talking about the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ actually stirs our hearts and helps us prepare better. The more we bring it into our conversations, the more our lives align with its reality.
The reality is that our Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming is not a side note. It is the climax. Every sermon, every prayer meeting, every worship song, every kingdom activity points us here: that Christ be revealed, that disciples be made, and that we be found ready when He returns. Being rupturable; caught up with Him, is not just a phrase. It is the very purpose of the gospel.
So, what is the point of this devotional? It is to remind us that there indeed is a second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t roll your eyes and say, “I already know that.” Don’t just know it, live with the consciousness of it. Though the day may seem delayed and the wait stretched over millennia, the truth stands: He will return, and no one knows the hour.
Therefore, as you strive to be a high achiever, as you labor for the kingdom, as you raise your children, run your business, or serve in ministry, do not lose sight of the D-Day. The crowns, the applause, the achievements will not matter then. What will matter is whether you were ready.
Oftentimes, I find myself dwelling on the book of Revelation. Sometimes it is the last thing I read before going to bed, and many times it is the last thought on my mind before I close my eyes. I encourage you to do the same. You would be surprised at the visions of the night that follow, the clarity of mind, and the sense of purpose that come as a result.
Remember King Nebuchadnezzar? As he lay on his bed thinking about the future, God gave him visions of what was to come: ‘As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen’ (Daniel 2:29). If God could mercifully honour the thoughts of an unbeliever at the time, how much more His children?
Further Reading: The book of Daniel and the entire book of Revelation.
