Our Voices What Do You Think?

What Do You Think?

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The answer seemed so simple. If I knew Christ's return were imminent, I would spend nearly all my time and energy on knowing God's Word, sharing it with others, and making every effort to ensure those I know and love also know Christ's love and salvation. I would focus on developing relationships between Christ and those I care for.

In reviewing my answer I noticed a couple of things. First, there is no mention of money, even though the question clearly included it. Money would have little meaning in a world where we knew Christ would soon return. Would I feel compelled to continue in my current work, to set aside for retirement, to upgrade a home? No. I could live on what I now have, knowing that I could do without much of what I feel I "need" today. I could use the money to further God's purpose; to share the good news.

Secondly, I noticed a significant lack of self in the answer. Oh, it speaks of what I would do, but it's primarily about doing for others and for God. It doesn't speak of hoarding my resources or doing all those things I've always wanted to try. It doesn't even focus on secluding myself to read my Bible and be in prayer. My answer focuses on others.

Lest this all sound too high and mighty - "Look at me and all the good I would do" - let me continue with the other thoughts this question stirred in me. The question appears in a study of the 24th chapter of Matthew. A chapter which also caused me to ponder how can I ever know with certainty when Christ will return? The answer can be found at verse 36:

So, given that I cannot know when Christ will come again, how can I be certain that it will not be this year, this week, or even today? I don't know that; I can't know that. Only the Father in heaven knows the day and the hour. The rest of us are called to "stay awake" and "be ready".

If that's the case, how then should I live today? By spending "nearly all my time and energy on knowing God's Word, sharing it with others, and making every effort to ensure those I know and love also know Christ's love and salvation." (One must appreciate the irony of our own answers coming back full circle.) Do I, in fact, live that way today? Am I even preparing to live that way in the immediate future?

Suddenly, my answer doesn't seem so simple. Or rather, the answer remains just as simple, but my corresponding action is not. I feel convicted, moved out of my comfort zone. Am I really prepared? Have I prepared those around me? What about you? Are you prepared and living in eager anticipation of Christ's return? Do our actions today testify to our readiness or will Jesus catch us napping? What should we be doing today?

The Lord doesn't call all of us to full-time professional ministry or mission work. But He does call each of us to share His good news. Each day then we must ask ourselves: Am I pointing others in the proper way? Does my daily life testify to His glory? Will Christ return to find me working for Him or for myself?

It's tempting to argue that I would live differently if I knew as certainly as it is posed in the original question. But don't I already know with certainty that Christ will indeed return? I profess that I do. So what do I need to do today? What do you need to do today?