RESPONSES TO CHANGE

MEMORISE: ‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.’ (Tit 2:13)
READ: Titus 2: 11-13

‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ’ (Ti 2:13). People who are sanctified live a life of pleasureable hope. Scripture says hope maketh not ashamed. There is a glorious hope in all who are sanctified that helps them to remain that way. They live in expectation every day. They hope for Jesus’ second coming. He will come to take those who are sanctified to the mansions he has prepared for them.

‘And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be’ (Rev 22:12).

The king of kings says he is coming quickly. If his coming was close when he foretold it to John, the beloved disciple, then it is even closer now. The problem is that everybody isn’t prepared for his return. Are you? There are two responses to Christ’s statement here. Whichever response you make to the promise of his coming will determine whether you are sanctified or not. The first response is that of uncertainly, fear and an inner desire for his coming to be postponed. Those who respond this way to an announcement of Christ’s coming are not sanctified. They are not prepared. They have a lot of issues to deal with which await action. Do you fall into this group? Are you afraid of his return?

‘He which testifieth these things, saithm surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, LORD Jesus’ (Rev 22:20). This is the second response. As soon as those in this group heard that Jesus was coming, they immediately chorused ‘Amen!’, meaning: ‘Let it be so now.’ To say this sincerely, from the heart, means that you have settled everything that would have prevented you from going. They are prepared and ever ready. They are tired of this wicked world and are anxiously awaiting their Rapture to a glorious beyond. These are the truly sanctified. Their bodies are no earth, but their eternal destination is heaven. Do you fall in this category?

ACTION POINT
List the reasons that prevent you from rejoicing when
you hear of Christ’s second coming. Deal with them now.