WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
NOVEMBER 07, 2022
TOPIC: EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE LORD’S RETURN
BY T. O. BANSO
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21 New King James Version).
Jesus is coming back. Are you waiting eagerly for His return? While Jesus was ascending to heaven after His resurrection, His disciples looked steadfastly toward heaven. But two men standing by them in white apparel said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11 New King James Version). The same Jesus, not another, is coming back.
Prior to His death, Jesus also talked about coming back. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3 New King James Version). As a child of God, you must not be engrossed in the affairs of this world and forget that Jesus is coming back. You should wait eagerly and prepare for His return. 2 Timothy 2:4 says no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
Nobody knows the exact time of the return of Jesus. As He said, no one knows that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but His Father only (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32). But believers must live ready. We must not live as the non-believers, who live as if they will live on this earth forever and don’t think of eternity. They are enjoying the pleasures of sin and carrying on their various earthly activities but suddenly Jesus will come just as it was in the day of Noah when the flood came suddenly.
Matthew 24:37-39 says, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (New King James Version).
Luke 17:26-27 also talks about the days of Noah. Verses 28–30 compare the return of Jesus to the days of Lot. “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (New King James Version).
Are you eagerly waiting for the Lord’s return? Many people think that death is the end of everything. But the Bible tells us that there is resurrection for both sinners and the saints after death, Everyone will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:29-30 New King James Version).
Don’t live the way sinners live, not concerned about eternity or the return of the Lord. Live with the understanding that this current earth is not your home. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21 New King James Version). Please note the phrase “we also eagerly wait for the Savior.”
God will create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind, as Isaiah 65:17 says. Also, Isaiah 66:22 talks about the new heavens and the new earth, which God will make. This should be your focus and not be so much engrossed in the things of this life that you have no desire for the return of Jesus. Are you looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells as the Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 3:13?
Revelation 21:1 says, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea” (New King James Version). Don’t let what is temporary make you lose what is eternal. Don’t enjoy the things of the present earth and miss the enjoyment of God dwelling with the redeemed on earth in eternity. “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God’” (Revelations 21:2-3 New King James Version).
Wait eagerly for the Lord’s return. Paul said that the Corinthians did not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed (1 Corinthians 1:7). Paul also talked about how the Thessalonians turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
Are you eagerly waiting for the Lord’s return? Mark 15:43 describes Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, as someone waiting for the kingdom of God. That refers to the future kingdom of God. Whoever does not have eternal life now will not be part of the coming kingdom of God.
Live as a pilgrim and stranger on earth (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13). Seek the things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God; set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1, 2). Titus 2:11-14 says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (New King James Version). Note the phrase “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
You should also watch and pray. “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:33 New King James Version). 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says believers should not sleep, as others do, but they should watch and be sober. In the parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 25:5 says while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. Don’t slumber and sleep; watch and be sober.
Are you eagerly waiting for the Lord’s return? “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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 New King James Version). Wait eagerly for the Lord’s return. He is coming soon.
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 that 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 God raised Him on 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 a palm tree and grow like a 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 to eagerly wait for the Lord’s return. As a soldier of Christ, I shall not entangle myself with the affairs of this life so that I may please him who enlisted him as a soldier in Jesus’ name. I receive the help of the Holy Spirit to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this world. I pray that sinners will come to Jesus, accept Him as their Lord and Saviour, live for Him, and eagerly await His return. The saints will not sleep, as others do, but shall watch and be sober in Jesus’ name.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
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Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
