Which other scriptures emphasize the importance of being prepared for Christ's return? Revelation 22 : 12 — The Starting Point “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.” Christ ties His imminent return to reward and accountability. Scripture keeps that theme front-and-center from the Gospels to the final pages of the New Testament. Jesus’ Own Warnings to Stay Ready • Matthew 24 : 42-44 — “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” • Matthew 24 : 45-47 — Faithful, wise servants are rewarded when the master “finds him doing so when He returns.” • Matthew 24 : 48-51 — Negligent servants are judged. • Matthew 25 : 1-13 (Parable of the Ten Virgins) — It ends with v. 13: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” • Luke 12 : 35-40 — “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning… You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” • Mark 13 : 33-37 — “Be on your guard and stay alert!… What I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!” Early-Church Exhortations to Live Alert • Romans 13 : 11-12 — “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber… The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near.” • 1 Corinthians 1 : 7-8 — Believers “eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,” who will “sustain you to the end.” • Philippians 3 : 20-21 — “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there.” • 1 Thessalonians 5 : 2-6 — “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night… let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.” • Titus 2 : 11-13 — Grace trains us to live godly lives “as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” • James 5 : 8-9 — “Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near… the Judge is standing at the door.” • 1 Peter 1 : 13 — “Prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded and set your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” • 2 Peter 3 : 10, 14 — The day “will come like a thief… Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace, spotless and blameless.” • Revelation 3 : 3 — “If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.” Common Threads That Define Readiness – Vigilance: eyes open, heart engaged. – Holiness: shedding deeds of darkness, putting on the armor of light. – Faithful service: doing the Master’s work until He appears. – Eager hope: longing for His revelation, not dreading it. – Sober self-examination: living blameless and repentant lives. – Mutual encouragement: strengthening one another as “the day” approaches. Living Prepared in Practical Terms 1. Stay alert in Scripture and prayer, keeping your spiritual “lamp” trimmed and burning. 2. Pursue purity; moral compromise dulls watchfulness. 3. Serve energetically in the tasks God assigns—He rewards faithfulness, not mere intentions. 4. Order daily priorities around eternity, investing in what Christ values. 5. Encourage fellow believers; readiness is a community project. 6. Keep hope alive by remembering: “Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13 : 11). |
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