From My Daily Reading #2 - Watch For Him!

Mark 13

In, Mark chapter 13, Jesus foretells of the destruction of Jerusalem and continues to tell of the signs that will proceed the return of Jesus Christ in the clouds.

The return of our Messiah is promised and surely coming soon!

The disciples and early believers heard Jesus was coming soon.

My parents and grandparents heard Jesus was coming soon.

All my Life Jesus is coming soon.

Coming soon…what does that mean?

Should we try to figure out when He is coming?

Christians and scholars, believers and non-believers alike have debated when, or even if Jesus is coming back.

The disciples were curious, and asked; so it is no surprise that it is a topic of curiosity that consumes many today.

Jesus even gave some “road signs” that would mark the path to his coming.

1. There will be many that make false claims of being the messiah.

2. There will wars and threats of wars, with nation rising against nation.

3. There will be earthquakes in strange places and famines.

4. The gospel must be spread to the whole world.

5. Persecution and betrayal will rise to a fevered pitch.

6. The Tribulation period will bring calamity as the world has never seen before.

The first 4 or even perhaps 5 of these either have happened and/or are happening now.

Many have debated where exactly we may be in the timeline of events and spend much energy trying to figure it out…but here is what we must always remember and keep in focus…Jesus says: Nobody knows the the when the Lord will return, not the angels and not even Jesus himself, but only God the Father.

While it is natural to be curious and desire to know when Jesus is coming again, we must also remember what Jesus told His disciples before he ascended into heaven in Acts 1: It is not for us to know when Jesus is coming.

But in Acts and in the gospels, Jesus did give us instructions for us to follow until He comes again, instead of trying to figure out when He is coming.

1. We are to be witnesses for Him - telling others what He has done, How they can know Him, and what to do once they know Him.

2. We are to Watch for Him/Stay awake/Be alert - no matter what translation you may read the idea is the same.  Be ready for Him to come.

3. We are to be busy for Him until He comes.

Christian, we have a message of love and hope to share.  We have an example and testimony to live out.  We have a promise to which we can look forward to it being fulfilled.

Christian, let us continue to live for Jesus.  Let us continue to live, tell, and believe even if he does not come back in our lifetime; but let us also continue to live, believe, and tell as if he is coming back today!

Who will you tell today?