WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
OCTOBER 29, 2020
TOPIC: ARE YOU PREPARING FOR THE MASTER’S RETURN?
BY T. O. BANSO
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17 New King James Version).
Jesus is coming back. I’m talking of the rapture. This return is the next major thing on the calendar of God for the church. Those who are saved and washed in the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) – the church both living and dead – shall be caught up with Jesus in the sky.
The message of Jesus’ return has been preached for many years since the time of the early church, yet Jesus has not come! Because of this, many Christians have been wondering whether or not Jesus will still come. Many Christians have become lukewarm – they’re no longer excited about the talk of the rapture or preparing for it. Some have even abandoned the faith concluding that the return of Jesus is a creation of some religious bigots.
But Jesus actually told us that his coming would be delayed so it shouldn’t be a surprise. In the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus said when the bridegroom delayed in coming, the ten virgins slept off but eventually he came (verse 5).
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told the story of a man who travelled to a “far country” and gave one of his servants five talents, another servant two talents, and yet another servant one talent. Though the man travelled to a far country, he still came back from his journey “after a long time” (verse 19 New Living Translation). It’s long since Jesus ascended to heaven, but He’s coming back.
Also in Mark 13:34-37, Jesus used another story to illustrate the Kingdom of God. In that story, a man went on a journey to a far country, gave authority to his servants to work, and commanded the porter to watch as he could return any time – no sleeping.
Jesus said in verses 35-37, “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (New King James Version). Jesus is coming back. Be prepared.
In the story of the ten virgins, they were to watch but they slept off because the bridegroom delayed. Also, the servants given the talents were to do business with it and make a profit but not all of them did so.
The Bible says since you don’t know when the master will come, be on guard, stay alert (Mark 13:33; Luke 12:40; Matthew 25:13). No date or time has been fixed for His coming. It’s useless preaching that it would be a certain date. Such predictions in the past have failed, and will still fail. It is unbiblical. The day of the LORD will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
Matthew 24:42-44 says, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (New King James Version). Be ready!
Jesus is coming back; don’t be weary expecting Him. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15 New King James Version).
Be prepared. How? Be heavenly minded, constantly expect His return, be aglow in the spirit, keep your lamp burning, live a holy life and get busy doing God’s assignment.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (New King James Version). Are you looking forward to seeing Jesus face to face?
The writer of the hymn, “Face To Face”, says,
Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face – what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ Who died for me?
Refrain
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!
Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessed day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.
Refrain
What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened,
And the dark things shall be plain.
Refrain
Face to face-oh, blissful moment!
Face to face-to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ Who loves me so.
Refrain
Face to face! Are you preparing to see Jesus face to face? Prepare for the rapture. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17 New King James Version).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The LORD be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me not to be lukewarm, asleep or live without preparing for the Master’s return. I shall not live a life that will disqualify me from the rapture in Jesus’ name. I shall not miss the rapture. I shall see Jesus face to face.
(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
