How are we to live our lives in light of Christ’s return?

Answer

We believe that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent, meaning His return could happen at any moment. Like the apostle Paul, we anticipate “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” «looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; », (Titus 2:13). Understanding that the Lord could return today, some may be tempted to halt their activities and simply “wait” for Him.

Nevertheless, there is a significant distinction between knowing that Jesus could return today and knowing that He will return today. Jesus stated, “No one knows about that day or hour” « But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. », (Matthew 24:36). The timing of His arrival remains undisclosed by God to anyone, so until He summons us to Himself, we should continue to serve Him. In Jesus’ parable of the ten talents, the departing king instructs his servants to “occupy till I come” «And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. », (Luke 19:13 KJV).

The return of Christ is consistently portrayed in Scripture as a powerful incentive for action, not as a cause to cease from action. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul concludes his teaching on the rapture by saying, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Paul ends a discourse on Christ’s coming with these words: “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” Retreating and “holding the fort” was never Jesus’ intention for us. Instead, we labor while we are able. “Night is coming.”

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4).

The apostles lived and served with the belief that Jesus could return within their lifetime; what if they had stopped their labors and just “waited”? They would have disobeyed Christ’s command to “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15), and the gospel would not have been spread. The apostles understood that Jesus’ imminent return meant they must engage in God’s work. They lived life to the fullest, as if every day were their last. We, too, should see every day as a gift and use it to glorify God.