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Left Behind, or Right Behind?

"Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of . . . Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)

Once I dropped a $20 bill. It was a windy day, so the minute it hit the ground it started to cruise down the street at an amazing pace! At that moment, I was totally focused. I chased that bill down the crowded avenues of Washington D.C. right out into traffic. When I finally caught up with that mutinous money, I was so happy that you would have thought I retrieved $1000. Was I crazy and foolish to do that? Probably. Yet I'm glad I stayed focused on my goal, because I would have lost something valuable if I had stopped concentrating on the coinage.

One day, Jesus Christ is coming back to earth. This time He returns as a conquering King instead of a powerless child. What an amazing day that will be! It will be the moment when we are taken from this earth into the paradise of heaven. Those that don't know Jesus will "left behind" for judgment, and we as believers will actually be "right behind" the Christians from the past being raised from the dead!

God wants us to focus on that day as intently as you would money blowing down the street. Why? I can think of at least three reasons:

  1. When we keep our focus on the return of Christ, it brings life into perspective. Despite all the injustice and tragedy in today's world, we can rest assured that Christ will return to right all the wrongs.
  2. When we eagerly wait the appearing of Christ, we tend to have a stronger relationship with Him. It's a simple principle: we become what we think about the most (Proverbs 23:7). If we think about money all the time, we'll become greedy. If we think about pleasure all the time, we'll become lazy. If we focus on Christ and His return, we'll become more like Him.
  3. When are eyes are looking upward towards Christ instead of downward on our circumstances, we keep short accounts with God. When we sin, we confess it right away. When we're blessed, we give praise to God immediately. It's a lot like taking care of a house while the family is on vacation. If get a phone call from them at 4 pm saying that they will return at 5 pm, and the house is trashed- would you be motivated to clean up? Knowing that Christ could return at any moment should motivate us to 'clean up' by denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live sober, righteous, and godly lives (Titus 2:12).

Are you "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing" of Jesus Christ? (Titus 2:13). It may seem crazy and foolish to your friends, but it just might give you a chance to explain the hope that you have inside you because you are not going to be "left behind".

God wants us to enjoy life. But He also wants us to live each day as if it may be the one in which He will return. Are you going to be "right behind"?

Questions:

  1. How would it change your life if you were more focused on the Return of Christ?
  2. Do you care enough about your friends who will be left on earth to tell them about Jesus?