4th January, 2022.

START THE YEAR ON THE RIGHT FOOT Pt.4

Titus 2:12-13 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. NLT

LIVE PREPARED FOR ETERNITY

I have asked singles several times if they want Jesus to come. Most of them would normally give a negative answer. A number of them want to taste marriage especially the sisters. They dream wearing the white gown and throwing the flower to spinsters ready for marriage. They dream of the dance and the glamour surrounding wedding. Single sisters, do you want Jesus to come now? For some brothers, they just don't want Jesus to come now because they want to marry and have sex. It sound funny right? I've just spoken the mind of many Christian singles. Some that are married do not want Jesus to come because they desire to be grandparents. Some men want to give out their daughters in marriage while the women desire to be grand moms who will go round taking care of their grandchildren. These and many more are the reasons some want the coming of Jesus to be delayed.

Whenever I hear such from people, I know the days of Noah that Jesus described are upon us again: “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat", Mt24:37-38. Just as it was in the days of Noah when men were given to frivolities and mundane concerns, so it is in our days. A number of persons live as though eternity is not real. It is not in their consciousness at all. It reflect in their daily living and their perspective of life. All they set as goals are things that revolve round this world. Unfortunately, there are believers that are trapped in this forgetfulness about their eternal home. They live for here and now.

This year, I want you to live ready and conscious of eternity. Jesus may come this year. I know this type of message is rare on some pulpits and some of you may not hear it again all through the year. Living with the consciousness of His coming will shape your life and conduct because the bible say so: "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.And all who have this eager expectation( Of His coming) will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure",1 John3:2&3(Emphasis mine, NIV&NLT). Those that have the hope of his coming and are eager for it will live pure lives. When people live impure lives, it reflects the very opposite of this scripture. It shows they are not expecting His return. There are two doors that leads to eternity: death and rapture. While we don't like to hear about the former, yet it happens even to devoted believers including preachers. When we're done here, we'll go home. On the other hand, the rapture can take place at anytime, we should live ready as though the trumpet will sound the next moment. It may happen this year as we are seeing the fulfilment of end time prophecies daily right before our eyes. Live ready and be prepared.