Pastor John D Jakes

Are you ready for Jesus to come back? No, I am not asking if your bags are packed. Nor am I asking if your affairs are in order. Here’s what I am asking, “Is your soul ready for Jesus to return?” When Jesus taught about His return He didn’t focus on the intricate details that we see in the book of Revelation. He didn’t focus on the spectacular or the sensational. He focused on the people. He tells people what to do when persecution comes. He lets us know that through it all we must be strong enough to remain faithful.

Being ready for the return of Christ is not first about what we know (the intricacies of end times theology, the progression of God’s judgments). All that information must be combined with a foundation of bedrock. That foundation is trust. Do we trust that Jesus will truly return? Do we trust what Jesus has taught us? Knowing the information will not help if we don’t trust it. But, if we trust, the truth of Christ’s return can instill in us great courage. Do we let Christ’s return and His teachings give us courage? Courage to do right. Courage to follow when all reason says it is foolish. Courage to find joy in the midst of persecution and hope in the midst of suffering. Isn’t that the power that trust gives us? Because we believe, we stand. William Tyndale said, “For if God be on our side, what matter maketh it who be against us, be they bishops, cardinals, popes, or whatsoever names they will?” Did you hear that? What does it matter who opposes us if God is on our side? That is the glory of trust!

Tyndale was simply applying what the Apostle Paul said. Paul encourages us to know, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8 31-32) The first Christians trusted Christ’s words. What about us? Do we live in that trust? What is stopping us? What is stopping you?

Something to think about,

Pastor John