Living Ready for Christ's Return: A Christian Guide

Introduction: The Master's Parting Words

Imagine a wealthy landowner who is going away on a long journey. Before he leaves, he gathers his servants, gives them each specific tasks and resources, and tells them, "Be faithful and productive until I return." He doesn't tell them the exact day or hour of his coming back, only that he will. How should those servants live? They should live in a state of constant readiness, eagerly anticipating their master's return while diligently carrying out the work he assigned them.

This is the picture Jesus paints for his followers. The doctrine of the Second Coming is not just a theological concept to be debated; it is a practical reality that is meant to shape every aspect of our daily lives. Jesus' final command was to "go and make disciples," and His final promise was "surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). We are living in that "in-between" time—the time between His ascension and His promised return. So, how should we live? The New Testament's answer is clear: we are to live with our heads in the clouds and our feet on the ground. We are to be heavenly-minded people who are of immense earthly good. This article will explore the practical implications of the Second Coming, moving beyond eschatological charts to ethical living, and asking the crucial question: What does it look like to live ready for the King's return?

1. Live with Joyful Expectancy, Not Fearful Speculation

The promise of Christ's return is called the "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13). It should be a source of profound joy, comfort, and excitement for the believer. It is the ultimate family reunion, the final victory lap, the moment when our faith becomes sight. However, for many, this topic is associated with fear, anxiety, and a morbid obsession with deciphering current events to predict a date.

Jesus explicitly warned against this kind of speculation. "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). The purpose of the signs of the times is not to help us build a prophetic calendar, but to keep us spiritually awake and alert.

Practical Application: Cultivating Hope

Focus on the Person, Not Just the Plan: Read the descriptions of the returning Christ in passages like Revelation 19. Meditate on His glory, power, and beauty. Let your heart be filled with a longing to see your Savior face to face.
Pray "Maranatha": The early church's simple prayer was "Maranatha," which means "Come, O Lord!" (1 Corinthians 16:22). Make this a regular part of your prayer life. Express your eager anticipation for His return.
Comfort One Another: Paul concludes his teaching on the rapture with the instruction, "Therefore encourage one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Talk about the hope of Christ's return with fellow believers. Use it as a source of mutual comfort in times of grief and suffering.

2. Live with Personal Holiness, Not Worldly Complacency

The reality of Christ's return and the final judgment is the Bible's great motivator for holy living. If we truly believe that we will one day stand before our holy King, it should have a profound impact on how we live today.

"So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." - 2 Peter 3:14

The expectation of the Second Coming delivers us from a complacent, worldly mindset. It reminds us that this life is short and eternity is long. It forces us to ask important questions: Am I living for the temporary pleasures of this world, or for the eternal approval of my King? Are there habits or sins in my life that I would be ashamed of if Jesus returned today?

Practical Application: Pursuing Purity

Conduct a "Return-Ready" Audit: Prayerfully examine your life. Consider your media consumption, your financial habits, your relationships, and your thought life. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any area that is not pleasing to God and turn from it in repentance.
Fight Sin Aggressively: Knowing that time is short should give us an urgency to fight our sin. Don't be passive about your struggles. Make use of the means of grace God has provided: confession, accountability with other believers, and immersion in Scripture.
Live with an Eternal Perspective: When faced with temptation, practice looking at the choice through the lens of eternity. Will this action matter in 10,000 years? Will it bring me closer to Christ or further away? This perspective helps us to choose eternal joy over fleeting, sinful pleasure.

3. Live with Missional Urgency, Not Comfortable Apathy

The doctrine of the Second Coming is not a call to retreat from the world, but to engage it with a new sense of urgency. Jesus' final command was to "go and make disciples of all nations," and this command is bracketed by His authority and His promised return.

Knowing that every person will one day face a final judgment should break our hearts for those who do not know Christ. It should motivate us to be bold in sharing the good news, knowing that it is the only message that can save people from an eternity apart from God. The delay in Christ's return is not a sign of His slowness, but a demonstration of His mercy, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). We are living in the time of God's patience, and we are called to be His ambassadors of reconciliation.

Practical Application: Engaging the Mission

Pray for the Lost: Make a list of specific friends, family members, or co-workers who do not know Jesus. Pray for them consistently, asking God to open their hearts to the Gospel.
Be Intentional with Relationships: See your everyday relationships as your primary mission field. Invest in people, listen to their stories, and look for natural opportunities to share the hope that you have.
Support Global Missions: The clearest sign of the end is the preaching of the Gospel to all nations (Matthew 24:14). Get involved in God's global plan. Learn about unreached people groups, pray for missionaries, and give financially to support the work of world evangelization.

Conclusion: The Faithful Servant

In Matthew 24, Jesus asks, "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns."

This is the picture of a life lived in readiness for Christ's return. It is not a life of panicked date-setting or fearful withdrawal from the world. It is a life of steady, faithful, day-by-day obedience to the tasks the Master has given us. It is a life marked by joyful hope, personal holiness, and missional urgency. We are to watch the headlines with one eye on God's prophetic plan, but we are to live our lives with both hands on the plow of our daily responsibilities, faithfully serving our King until He calls us home or comes for us in glory.

Living Ready for Christ’s Return