How can we prepare for future events as described in Matthew 24:25? Jesus’ Advance Notice “See, I have told you in advance.” (Matthew 24:25) The Lord’s short statement packs a loving charge: because He has laid out the future, we can get ready now. Take His Words at Face Value • Recognize prophecy as reliable history written beforehand (Isaiah 46:9-10). • Treat every detail as trustworthy, because “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). • Let His foresight produce humble confidence, not fear. Stay Rooted in Truth to Resist Deception • Jesus’ first warning in the discourse is, “See to it that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). • Immerse yourself daily in the Word (Psalm 1:2) so counterfeit teaching stands out. • Test every spirit and message (1 John 4:1). • Hold fast to sound doctrine handed down “in faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). Maintain Spiritual Alertness • “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13). • Pray with vigilance (Mark 13:33; 1 Peter 4:7). • Arrange your schedule so time with God is never negotiable. Pursue Holy Living • Coming judgment motivates purity: “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” (2 Peter 3:11-12). • Confess sin quickly (1 John 1:9). • Replace compromise with obedience that delights the Father (John 14:21). Strengthen Fellowship and Accountability • “And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Meet regularly with believers who sharpen, encourage, and correct. • Cultivate a culture of mutual exhortation as the day approaches. Endure Trials with Hope • Birth pains precede the kingdom (Romans 8:22-25). • Expect opposition but remember: “The one who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). • Lean on the Spirit’s power to stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-18). Stay on Mission • “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world… and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). • View every conversation as an eternal opportunity (Colossians 4:5-6). • Invest resources and talents where they yield kingdom returns (Matthew 25:14-30). Fix Your Eyes on the Blessed Hope • Anticipate His visible return (Acts 1:11). • Store treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). • Encourage one another with the promise that “God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Because Jesus has spoken “in advance,” preparation is neither guesswork nor gloom; it is a daily walk of faith, purity, vigilance, and joyful expectation until we see Him face-to-face. |
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