When

We live in the not now, but presently.  And one question that many ask is this: when?  When will Christ return? When will the end come?  When shall I be with my Savior?

We yearn, strive, and struggle with these questions.  This is not wrong, for even the early Christians and apostles yearned for Christ and His return.  Rather it is what we do with our time that matters.  Which is why I come to this question, is Christ our life?  In Colossians 3:1-4 it says "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."  "When Christ who IS our life..." not just a part of our life or a section of it, not just the pilot or co-pilot of our life, but our whole life.  Christ should be our all, our passion, we live for Christ and Christ alone.  I have been reading MacArthur's recent book "Slave".  In it he says this: "True Christianity is not about adding Jesus to my life. It is about devoting myself completely to Him."  However, many in today's society tend to be like the people talked about in Isaiah 29:13, giving lip-service to God, but not really following Him wholly.  In doing this they tend to not only fool others but also themselves into thinking they are following God completely.  So true Christianity is not about adding Jesus to my life, but rather making Jesus my life.  And this is the preparation.

Another aspect that comes up when talking about when, is about the people that say "Thus saith the Lord, I shall come on this day"  People have been doing this for a while, however it says that no one knows the day or the hour of Christ's return, but God the Father only.  And that this day will come like a thief in the night.  Many times has the time passed that the people have declared Christ would come, but nothing happened.  Rather than focus on trying to find out when, we should be focusing on preparing for the when. Be ready! In season and out of season.  God may return any time, it is better to be ready for His return and following His commands than to be asleep when we should be watching?  Are you prepared?