Hope
Do you have hope? Not the wishful thinking, cross your fingers kind...but genuine hope rooted in your faith. Biblical hope is a confident expectation based on what God has promised. So what has God promised will happen in the future?
Jesus is coming again. Personally and visibly, He is coming back. In power and glory, He will return to consummate His redemptive mission and to establish His eternal kingdom.
That is the message of the Bible, and while we may not have definitive answers to every detail surrounding the end times, if we believe that the Bible is true, then on this we can be confident: Jesus is coming again. And because of that certain fact, you need to prepare yourself!
So how do you view the Bible's description of future events? There are two basic approaches. French mathematician, Blaise Pascal argued that people can choose to believe in God or can choose to not believe in God, and that God either exists or he does not.
(1) So on one hand, you can dismiss and ignore the existence of God and the Bible's predictions of what is to come. It's an option that most people take! They go about their business as if nothing the Bible says is true. That's a huge gamble! Pascal thought that since evidence cannot settle the question of whether God exists, that you should bet, or wager, on God because of what’s at stake: you have lots to gain and not much to lose.(1) If you dismiss the claims of Scripture, it doesn't change the consequences that will come if the Bible proves true.
That takes us to the second approach to life beyond this life...
(2) Take God at His Word and live prepared! Throughout the Bible, the primary purpose of teachings on end time events is not merely to satisfy our curiosity. Rather, it is to reveal how to live now in light of future events. We want to encourage you to be prepared, but don't take our word for it... study it for yourself.
There are many places in Scripture you could begin. Let me suggest that you take time to look at Mark 13. In that chapter, we see strong exhortations--watch out, be on guard, stay awake! In the final verse of the chapter Jesus said this: “And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” (v. 37). The Greek word translated “be alert” (“stay awake,” “watch”) is the very last word of the chapter, and Jesus’ final word on this subject in Mark’s Gospel. It is where the emphasis lies in Mark 13. The recurring theme of Scripture concerning the second coming is to be ready, and Scripture is not silent on how to prepare. Here are seven ways for you to look forward to the future!
1. LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF HIS FIRST COMING.
Do you want to be prepared for Jesus’ second coming? Then live like His first coming mattered. Take time to consider the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus! If Jesus isn't alive, nothing in life really matters... But, if Jesus is raised from the dead, then nothing else matters!
If you have never thought through these spiritual matters, take time to do so HERE! Those who profess Christ as Lord and live according to their profession will receive great reward when Jesus returns.
2. BE DISCERNING.
Twice in Mark 13 Jesus warned His disciples not to be led astray by false claims. The Apostle, Paul wrote a warning in a letter to a church and told them this, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him…. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). The warning of Scripture is consistent: use discernment in listening to those who claim to have all the details of the end times figured out, and ignore those who resort to date setting end time events.
3. ACCEPT THE UNCERTAINTIES.
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!” (Mark 13:32-33). Jesus was content not to know the day or hour, then let’s stop speculating about it. Be content with “no one knows … only the Father.” Your hope is not tied to "when" Jesus will return, but "that" He will return!
4. DON’T LOSE HOPE.
Jesus’ first coming brought salvation and His word instructs us how to live “sensible, righteous, and godly” lives in this present age. The Bible says that it is our “blessed hope”—the expectation of Jesus’ return—that compels us to do so! (Titus 2:11-13).
5. ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
The promise that “the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is followed by a command: “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Again, the discussion of coming events in 1 Thessalonians 5 is followed by the exhortation: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (v. 11).Scripture’s teachings about the second coming are not given to satisfy our personal fascination with future events but that the Christians might encourage one another with the promises.
6. LIVE AS IF TODAY WAS THE DAY.
If we’re not careful, the delay in Jesus’ return will lead us to complacency. Living in the expectation that He could return today compels us to live every day for what really matters—for eternity.
7. KEEP ON DOING THE WORK JESUS LEFT US TO DO.
Jesus warned of troubling events as we near the end of the age, including persecution of believers (Mark 13:7-9). Then He added that nothing—not even persecution—should distract us from the one necessary thing: preach to the gospel to all nations (v. 10).
Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave the church its marching orders: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The very next verses report that the disciples just stood there looking up into the sky. Two angels appeared and spoke the words the church today needs to hear: Why are you standing there gazing into heaven? Jesus is coming back—so get busy! (vv. 9-11).
(1) Pascal, B. (1662/1958). Pensees, trans. William Trotter. New York: J. M. Dent Co., fragments 233–241.
*This post adapted from LifeWay's Explore the Bible study series on Mark 13. "Seven Ways to Prepare for Jesus' Return". Mike Livingstone, 2019.
Jesus is coming again. Personally and visibly, He is coming back. In power and glory, He will return to consummate His redemptive mission and to establish His eternal kingdom.
That is the message of the Bible, and while we may not have definitive answers to every detail surrounding the end times, if we believe that the Bible is true, then on this we can be confident: Jesus is coming again. And because of that certain fact, you need to prepare yourself!
So how do you view the Bible's description of future events? There are two basic approaches. French mathematician, Blaise Pascal argued that people can choose to believe in God or can choose to not believe in God, and that God either exists or he does not.
(1) So on one hand, you can dismiss and ignore the existence of God and the Bible's predictions of what is to come. It's an option that most people take! They go about their business as if nothing the Bible says is true. That's a huge gamble! Pascal thought that since evidence cannot settle the question of whether God exists, that you should bet, or wager, on God because of what’s at stake: you have lots to gain and not much to lose.(1) If you dismiss the claims of Scripture, it doesn't change the consequences that will come if the Bible proves true.
That takes us to the second approach to life beyond this life...
(2) Take God at His Word and live prepared! Throughout the Bible, the primary purpose of teachings on end time events is not merely to satisfy our curiosity. Rather, it is to reveal how to live now in light of future events. We want to encourage you to be prepared, but don't take our word for it... study it for yourself.
There are many places in Scripture you could begin. Let me suggest that you take time to look at Mark 13. In that chapter, we see strong exhortations--watch out, be on guard, stay awake! In the final verse of the chapter Jesus said this: “And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” (v. 37). The Greek word translated “be alert” (“stay awake,” “watch”) is the very last word of the chapter, and Jesus’ final word on this subject in Mark’s Gospel. It is where the emphasis lies in Mark 13. The recurring theme of Scripture concerning the second coming is to be ready, and Scripture is not silent on how to prepare. Here are seven ways for you to look forward to the future!
1. LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF HIS FIRST COMING.
Do you want to be prepared for Jesus’ second coming? Then live like His first coming mattered. Take time to consider the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus! If Jesus isn't alive, nothing in life really matters... But, if Jesus is raised from the dead, then nothing else matters!
If you have never thought through these spiritual matters, take time to do so HERE! Those who profess Christ as Lord and live according to their profession will receive great reward when Jesus returns.
2. BE DISCERNING.
Twice in Mark 13 Jesus warned His disciples not to be led astray by false claims. The Apostle, Paul wrote a warning in a letter to a church and told them this, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him…. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). The warning of Scripture is consistent: use discernment in listening to those who claim to have all the details of the end times figured out, and ignore those who resort to date setting end time events.
3. ACCEPT THE UNCERTAINTIES.
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!” (Mark 13:32-33). Jesus was content not to know the day or hour, then let’s stop speculating about it. Be content with “no one knows … only the Father.” Your hope is not tied to "when" Jesus will return, but "that" He will return!
4. DON’T LOSE HOPE.
Jesus’ first coming brought salvation and His word instructs us how to live “sensible, righteous, and godly” lives in this present age. The Bible says that it is our “blessed hope”—the expectation of Jesus’ return—that compels us to do so! (Titus 2:11-13).
5. ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
The promise that “the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is followed by a command: “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Again, the discussion of coming events in 1 Thessalonians 5 is followed by the exhortation: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (v. 11).Scripture’s teachings about the second coming are not given to satisfy our personal fascination with future events but that the Christians might encourage one another with the promises.
6. LIVE AS IF TODAY WAS THE DAY.
If we’re not careful, the delay in Jesus’ return will lead us to complacency. Living in the expectation that He could return today compels us to live every day for what really matters—for eternity.
7. KEEP ON DOING THE WORK JESUS LEFT US TO DO.
Jesus warned of troubling events as we near the end of the age, including persecution of believers (Mark 13:7-9). Then He added that nothing—not even persecution—should distract us from the one necessary thing: preach to the gospel to all nations (v. 10).
Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave the church its marching orders: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The very next verses report that the disciples just stood there looking up into the sky. Two angels appeared and spoke the words the church today needs to hear: Why are you standing there gazing into heaven? Jesus is coming back—so get busy! (vv. 9-11).
(1) Pascal, B. (1662/1958). Pensees, trans. William Trotter. New York: J. M. Dent Co., fragments 233–241.
*This post adapted from LifeWay's Explore the Bible study series on Mark 13. "Seven Ways to Prepare for Jesus' Return". Mike Livingstone, 2019.