Ready for Christ's return

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children. 1 John 2:28-29 NLT

John is so concerned that people are neglecting the truth that he constantly reminds them that they should be prepared for Christ’s return. He already told them in the Gospel that Christ is the Truth (John 14:6) and that Satan is the Liar (John 8:44). The devil will not stop deceiving people, leading them astray so that they will not receive what Christ offers thus, miss the eternal fellowship He prepares for those who believed Him when He returns. “I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:1-4, 6). John also reminds those who have come to know Christ as their Lord to “remain in fellowship with Christ.” He is repetitious about this matter and determined to drill this point in the minds of his readers for there is a grave consequence if we will not listen to his pleas. John wants believers when Christ returns to “be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.” John also reminds the believers that the fellowship with God when He returns is not just spiritual in nature where we experience Him in prayer and meditation but a physical one where we can see and touch Christ. “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2). While we are anticipating Christ’s forthcoming return, let us be obedient to God and His Word: “If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15). Do not stop communicating in sharing your faith to others for in receiving Christ that people are saved. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). Let us not stop having fellowship with fellow believers for in this way, we are encouraged and we encourage others in their walk with the Lord. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).

Blessings,