He’s Coming…Are you Ready?

One dark night in a second-story room in Jerusalem, Jesus ate His “last supper” with His disciples. There, He revealed the startling truth that His death was only hours away. The eleven must have wanted to stop their ears from hearing Him say, “I’m going to leave you. I’m going back to My Father.”

Heaven, our eternal destiny, is real. It isn’t a figment of our imagination or a state of mind; it’s a reality. Heaven is a literal place that Jesus is preparing for His own. He says so in John 14:3! He says, “I will come again and receive you to Myself.” That’s a direct promise from His lips. This is also the first mention of the rapture these disciples had ever heard.

This kind of teaching must have stunned the disciples. They had anticipated the immediate establishment of Jesus’s earthly kingdom. They expected Jesus to rule as the King of kings and Lord of lords in Jerusalem before the end of their generation. They envisioned themselves as high-ranking rulers in His royal court. They thought, with great delight, that they’d witness the overthrow of Rome, Israel’s cruel oppressor. But Christ put all of that on hold and taught them that His present spiritual kingdom would be characterized by humility and love. Shortly thereafter, Jesus went to the cross. He died and was placed in a tomb. But three days later, He emerged in bodily form from the tomb, victorious over death.

We can reveal our readiness for Christ’s return in three ways.

  • First, we walk by faith, not by what we see.
  • Second, we live in peace, not panic, with regard to the future.
  • Third, we rely on our hope in God’s promise for our future.

One day, Jesus will come back for us. If you’re spiritually ready to meet Him, the thought of His coming should be a comfort to you—bringing peace. If you’re not ready, the idea of His coming probably causes you a great deal of fear and uncertainty. The secret of eternal life is being sure you know the One who has the power to defeat the grave. His coming is sure―are you?

Adapted from Growing Deep in the Christian Life: Essential Truths for Becoming Strong in the Faith Workbook (Plano, Tex.: Insight for Living, 2005), 162, 169. Copyright © 2005 by Insight for Living.

Posted in End Times and tagged .

Accuracy, clarity, and practicality all describe the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll. Chuck is the chairman of the board at Insight for Living and the chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary. Chuck also serves as the senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, where he is able to do what he loves most—teach the Bible to willing hearts. His focus on practical Bible application has been heard on the Insight for Living radio broadcast since 1979.

ఖచ్చితత్వం, స్పష్టత మరియు ఆచరణాత్మకత అన్నీ చార్లెస్ ఆర్. స్విన్డాల్ యొక్క బైబిల్-బోధనా పరిచర్యను వివరిస్తాయి. చక్ ఇన్సైట్ ఫర్ లివింగ్ కు బోర్డు ఛైర్మన్ మరియు డల్లాస్ థియోలాజికల్ సెమినరీకి ఛాన్సలర్. చక్ టెక్సాస్‌లోని ఫ్రిస్కోలోని స్టోన్‌బ్రయర్ కమ్యూనిటీ చర్చ్ యొక్క సీనియర్ పాస్టర్‌గా కూడా పనిచేస్తున్నారు, అక్కడ ఆయన చాలా ఇష్టపడేదాన్ని చేయగలుగుతున్నాడు-ఇష్టపడే హృదయాలకు బైబిల్ నేర్పిస్తున్నారు. ఆచరణాత్మక బైబిల్ అనువర్తనంపై ఆయన దృష్టి 1979 నుండి ఇన్సైట్ ఫర్ లివింగ్ రేడియో ప్రసారంలో వినబడుచున్నది.