For many believers, the return of Jesus is a doctrine we agree with but rarely think about. We know it is in Scripture. We know it is part of our faith. We know it will happen someday. But the urgency of that truth often fades beneath the noise of daily life.
Yet Jesus never spoke of His return as a distant idea. He spoke of it as a certainty that should shape how we live today. He described it as sudden, visible, and unavoidable. He warned that it would come at a moment when the world least expects it.
The question is not whether He is coming.
The question is whether we are ready.
The Bible Warns Us to Stay Awake
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls His people to live with spiritual alertness. Not fear. Not panic. Alertness.
Jesus said,
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Matthew 24 verse 42
This is not a suggestion. It is a command.
The early church lived with this sense of expectancy. They believed Jesus could return in their lifetime, and that belief shaped their generosity, their courage, and their priorities. They lived with open hands and surrendered hearts because they understood that this world is temporary and eternity is near.
Over time, however, the urgency has faded. We have grown comfortable. We have grown distracted. We have grown accustomed to the idea that tomorrow will always come.
But Scripture reminds us that one day, tomorrow will be the day He returns.
Biblical Example One
The Days of Noah
Jesus compared His return to the days of Noah. People were living ordinary lives. They were eating, drinking, marrying, building, and planning. Nothing seemed unusual. Nothing felt urgent.
But the danger was not in their activities.
The danger was in their attitude.
They ignored the warning.
They dismissed the message.
They assumed they had time.
Then the rain began.
The door of the ark closed, not because God was cruel, but because the time of preparation had ended. The opportunity to respond had passed.
Jesus said His return will be the same. Life will feel normal. People will be busy. The world will be distracted. And the moment will arrive suddenly.
Biblical Example Two
The Ten Virgins
In Matthew chapter twenty five, Jesus tells the story of ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. All ten believed He was coming. All ten had lamps. All ten expected to meet Him.
But only five were ready.
The other five assumed they could prepare later. They assumed they had more time. They assumed the bridegroom would not come at that moment.
When the cry rang out, the ready ones entered the wedding feast. The unprepared ones arrived too late.
They believed in the bridegroom.
They wanted to be with Him.
They simply were not ready when He arrived.
Belief alone is not readiness.
Desire alone is not preparation.
A Real World Picture
The Missed Appointment
Imagine someone who has an important appointment early in the morning. They set their alarm. They know the importance of the meeting. They intend to be ready.
But when the alarm rings, they hit snooze.
Then they hit it again.
And again.
They do not reject the appointment.
They simply delay getting up.
By the time they finally rise, the moment has passed. Not because they did not believe in the appointment, but because they did not act with urgency.
This is how many believers treat the return of Christ.
We believe it.
We agree with it.
We intend to be ready.
But we keep hitting spiritual snooze.
Jesus is calling us to wake up before the moment arrives.
What Does It Mean To Be Ready
Readiness is not perfection.
Readiness is direction.
It is the posture of a heart that is leaning toward God, not away from Him. It is a life that is surrendered, not drifting. It is a faith that is active, not casual.
Being ready means:
• You repent quickly
• You forgive freely
• You obey promptly
• You love deeply
• You live with eternity in view
Readiness is not about predicting the day.
It is about preparing your life.
The Return of Jesus Is Good News
For the believer, the return of Christ is not something to fear. It is something to anticipate. It is the moment when every tear is wiped away, every injustice is corrected, every sorrow is healed, and every promise is fulfilled.
It is the day when faith becomes sight.
It is the day when hope becomes reality.
It is the day when the King takes His rightful place.
The question is not whether He is coming.
The question is whether we are living in a way that reflects that truth.