How can we prepare for the "great and awesome day of the LORD"? Framing the Question Malachi 4:5 declares, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.” Joel 2:31 echoes, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.” These verses anchor the promise that God’s climactic intervention in history is certain. Our call is to be ready. Why Preparation Matters • God’s timetable is unalterable (Acts 1:7). • His return will be sudden—“like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). • Rewards and accountability accompany His appearing (Revelation 22:12). Because Scripture is inerrant and literal, every detail about the Day of the LORD will be fulfilled exactly as written. Recognizing the Times • Prophetic signs—global upheavals, Israel’s regathering, moral decline—align with Matthew 24:6–14. • Joel’s cosmic portents remind us creation itself will signal the nearness of that Day (Joel 2:30–31). • Yet the precise hour is concealed (Matthew 24:36). Our focus is readiness, not date-setting. Personal Readiness: Salvation First 1. Repent and believe the gospel. • “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). 2. Receive assurance. • “Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment” (John 5:24). Without saving faith, all other preparation is empty. Daily Walk: Living as Children of Light • Cultivate holiness – “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11). • Watchfulness – “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). • Ongoing repentance – Allow the Spirit to expose sin and conform you to Christ (1 John 1:9). • Persevering faith – “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Engaging in Kingdom Work • Share the gospel – “We are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). • Serve in love – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10). • Store treasures in heaven – Live generously and invest in eternal priorities (Matthew 6:19–21). Hope-Filled Endurance • Encourage one another – “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). • Practice patience – “You too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:8). • Fix your eyes on Christ – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Summary Checklist □ Confessed Jesus as Lord and believed in His resurrection □ Living a repentant, Spirit-led life □ Actively watching and longing for His appearing □ Serving others and proclaiming the gospel □ Encouraging fellow believers in hope By embracing these biblical actions, we stand ready for the great and awesome Day of the LORD—confident, expectant, and anchored in the unshakeable promises of God’s Word. |
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