What Does the Bible Say About the Second Coming of Jesus?

The Bible says Jesus will come again someday, and the world as we know it will dramatically change. There are many ideas and opinions about the end-times, but the Bible gives very few details of exactly what will happen. Most of our questions do not have a clear answer in the Bible.  Those passages that discuss end-times and His return have for centuries been mired in debate as to whether the language is literal or symbolic. So how should we deal with this obvious void in Scripture dealing with such a momentous event as the return of Christ and  the looming judgment of all mankind?

Well, the answer is much more straight-forward than pop-theology would suggest.  Just be ready... ready for His return!  The Bible advises us to be spiritually prepared for judgment at any moment and to put our trust in God that He will make everything right in the end.

So, what does the Bible say about the second coming of Jesus and the events surrounding His return?

The Bible presents God's work of redemption as an ongoing process. Throughout the Old Testament, He leads His chosen people toward holiness, truth and righteousness. The final phase of the process of redemption began with the first coming of Jesus and will culminate in His Second Coming. There will be a final judgment of all people, living and dead. The faithful will be rewarded with eternal life; the wicked will be cast into hell for eternity. There will be a final defeat and destruction of all evil -- Satan, sin, suffering and death. The kingdom of God will come to its complete fulfillment at last.

Jesus left no doubt that He will return again to complete His mission of salvation for mankind:

"Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." (NLT, John 14:1-4)

The Bible tells of many events that will occur before the Second Coming and which will be signs that the end is near. There will be wars, famines, earthquakes, false prophets, persecutions, and an increase in wickedness. The Gospel must first be preached to all nations. The temple at Jerusalem would be destroyed, as was fulfilled.  The temple was in fact destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D..

Many of Jesus' followers expected Him to return within their lifetimes, and that expectation was supported by several passages such as:

"Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (NAS, Luke 21:32-33)

On the other hand, passages such as this one place the Second Coming much farther in the future:

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come." (NAS, Matthew 24:14)

No completely satisfactory resolution of these differences in the Bible can be found, and the timing of the Second Coming has been a subject of hot debate within Christianity from the beginning. Jesus, Himself, said no one would be able to predict exactly when He would return:

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (NIV, Mark 13:32-33)

The event, when it happens, will be swift and unexpected:

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (NIV, Matthew 24:43-44)

Over the past nearly 2000 years, there have been countless attempts to interpret current events and link them to the end-time signs in the Bible. There have been innumerable predictions that the Second Coming was imminent. All have been wrong.

So what can a Christian be doing during these ambiguous times?  Be ready, be prepared for Christ’s return!  Because no one knows when Jesus will come again for the final judgment, we must always be prepared.  Jesus' Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) speaks directly to the need to be spiritually prepared for the final judgment, and a number of His other sayings make the same point.

Everyone who has ever lived will be brought back to life in some form to face the final judgment along with those still living:

Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 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. (NKJV, John 5:25-29)

While we are still living, or until Jesus comes again, we have every opportunity to repent, to change our ways, to commit our lives to Christ, to obey the Gospel and be immersed for forgiveness of our sins as He promised and join Him in a right and proper relationship. When He returns... we will all be judged for our choices in life.

Everyone, the still living and the resurrected dead, will face God's judgment. Even those who profess Christianity will be judged by the deeds they have done in life (Matthew 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who have lived righteous lives will be granted eternal life; those who have lived evil lives will be condemned to eternal punishment (Matthew 5:29-30, 25:31-46, Mark 9:43-48). The apostle Paul put it this way:

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (NIV, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10)

The righteous who are granted eternal life will receive new spiritual bodies that are in some ways similar to the old earthly body and in some ways different.  So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. (NIV, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

The final result of the Second Coming will be fulfillment of all the promises of the kingdom of God. Satan will be destroyed, and there will be no more sin, suffering or death.

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (NIV, Revelation 20:10)

"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." (NIV, Matthew 13:40-43)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (NIV, Revelation 21:1-4)

The second coming of Jesus and related Bible prophecies have spawned a whole industry in recent years. Hal Lindsey's 1970 book The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have been at the forefront of speculations about the second coming of Christ. Besides the many books, there are websites, TV evangelists, lecture series, movies and videos all pitching what the authors believe will be what happens. Some of these feature imaginative and vivid embellishments of Bible prophecies mingled with contemporary political and social theories. Most, if not all of these works go well beyond anything revealed in the Bible and are properly classified as fiction - not as Bible prophecy.

What you and I need to do is not complicated. We just need to be living our lives for Christ.  Our lives need to be a reflection of God’s holiness... noticeably different, set apart from this world, aligned to Him.  We need to be “all in” with our attitudes, commitments and actions as we walk with our Lord, waiting for His return.  

Be ready, that’s it.  Be confident in your preparation. DON'T BE CAUGHT UNPREPARED! In all you do, be assured that what you are doing in this world, nurtured by the leading of the Holy Spirit, prepares you for His return and the wonders He is bringing with Him... for you!

Whoever has ears... let them HEAR what the Spirit says to the [seven] churches.

It is valuable for a Christian to understand the spiritual health of their congregation. However, this is not something that can be easily discerned as an insider.  It takes maturity, discernment and the ability to see things as they really are and not how you hope or wish they would be.   What is going on spiritually... what is being done right, and what is being done wrong, in a congregation is almost beyond human capacity to see things objectively.

Even if you are in a position of leadership, you will have a more comprehensive perspective and understanding of what the church needs to do. But you must be careful and not leap to conclusions!  We need help to say the least, to evaluate who we are and where we are in our relationship to Jesus Christ.  Consider the first three chapters of the book of Revelation and the reviews offered by Jesus of the seven churches.  Jesus Christ's words to the seven groups of first-century Christians are telling and revealing in ways we often don’t want to accept as possibly being the condition of our church. They are a timeless diagnosis of the spiritual condition of God's Church throughout history.  They also offer sound remedies for spiritual aliment and explain how we can resist the pull of a compromise and spiritual lethargy.

No one wants to give themselves a less than favorable grade when evaluating yourself and the collective body of believers in a congregation of God’s Church.  I have noticed that whenever a congregation or it's leaders evaluate their congregation against the seven churches in Revelation, they always seem to consider themselves to be a Church of Philadelphia... the one Jesus commended and seemed to be on track. 

Actually, there are very few such churches like Philadelphia around today. Most present day "Philadelphia" congregations are in the Third World, or in countries where they are suffering deadly persecution.  So what can we really learn from those seven ancient churches?  What can they tell us about ourselves and what we need to do to improve our standing before Christ?

Ideas circulating among Christians today are significant in ways most do not realize. New ideas and new controversies cause some groups to move together, and others to move apart. But why is this happening, and what does it all mean? Does Scripture give us any clue?

As the Apostle John wrote under divine inspiration about events that would lead to the end of this age, he began with admonishment to the seven churches. 

The letters to the seven churches describe actual conditions in each church at the end of the first century. However, the letters are also fully applicable to our time and our congregations. The church conditions described in the letters prophetically describe conditions that would prevail as the second coming of Christ nears. John addressed the book of Revelation "to the seven churches" (1:4), indicating that the letters to each church were to be read in all the churches. 

The purpose of the letters, i.e., performance reviews by Jesus... is to convey universal lessons that describe and deal with universal human tendencies. We need to understand what these letters reveal about the eras of the Church—especially our modern era—and how their lessons apply to us today.

Ephesus: Lost Its First Love

Ephesus was the leading city of Asia Minor—but it was in a state of decline. The Ephesian church is symbolic of the Apostolic era of the first and second centuries. This church is commended for its works—the preaching, enduring and serving by the early disciples (Revelation 2:1–3). Even they had to discern between false teachers and true Christian ministers. However, like the fading glory of Ephesus, the Church at the end of the first century was told that "you have left your first love" (Revelation 2:4). God warned that, unless they repented and renewed the passion, He would cease to use them for His purpose (Revelation 2:5).

John equates "love" with walking in the truth and keeping the commandments (2 John 6). Concerning the effect of false teachers, he warns, "Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for," including our reward (2 John 7–8). In 3 John, he urges the Church to serve the brethren and to "become fellow workers for the truth" (vv. 4–8). Though Jesus emphasized humility (Matthew 5:5) and love for neighbor (John 15:12), the Church at the end of the first century contained individuals who loved preeminence over others—an attitude the Bible calls evil (3 John 9–11).

The church at Ephesus had lost its love—for God, for the Truth, for doing the Work and for the brethren. In place of these key fundamentals, people were listening to deceptive doctrines (Revelation 2:6). For some, holding on to a position was more important than holding on to the Truth. Even today, some are more concerned with holding a position—perhaps serving as an elder or deacon or leading a choir—than with doing the Work of God–His Way. The lesson of the Ephesian era is clear: Get back on track—do the Work–His Way. Preach the Gospel with zeal, love the Truth and love each other.

The New Testament Church, which began in the 30s, was beginning to fragment in the 90s, when John wrote his epistles and the book of Revelation. The Apostle Paul indicates that this diversity of opinion had been present for some time (1 Corinthians 1:10–13), and was causing people to fall away (2 Timothy 1:15). In just over 60 years, the Church founded by Jesus Christ was already rife with division and doctrinal strife. This should be a sobering lesson for us today as we look at the massive shift away from God’s truth and the denominationalism the governs the Church!

Smyrna: Faithful in Trial

The church at Smyrna offers another powerful and timeless lesson. Smyrna was a prosperous, bustling, beautiful port city, but Christians there faced considerable persecution. Smyrna fell under intense Roman persecution of the Church. While the Smyrna believers are commended for their works and being rich in faith (Revelation 2:9), it is urged to be "faithful until death" in order to receive a reward (Revelation 2:10). The church at Smyrna illustrates the vital importance of endurance—of holding on to your beliefs during difficult times. Jesus said that "he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13). The Apostle Paul wrote that only those who finish the race will be given a prize (1 Corinthians 9:24–27). Elders are admonished that they must be found "holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught" (Titus 1:9). If your foundation is solid (Matthew 7:24–29), and you take time to "prove" what the Truth is (1 Thessalonians 5:21), you will be prepared to endure when the going gets tough.

Historical sources reveal that Christians of the Smyrna did not follow prevailing Roman social and religious customs and they paid a heavy price in persecution. Smyrna is one of only two churches to receive no corrective counsel from Jesus. However, the lesson of the Smyrna Christians is vital and timeless: Remain faithful in trials—endure to the end and do not give up! It is a lesson we cannot afford to forget!

Pergamos: The Compromising Church

Pergamos was the capital city of Asia Minor, home to imposing temples dedicated to Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Asclepius (the healing cult) and Caesar. Its citizens were sophisticated and literate. The church at Pergamos is admonished for permitting false teachers to put "stumbling blocks" in the way of believers (Revelation 2:14). While people may not initially believe false teachings, tolerating the spread of deceptive ideas will eventually lead many to stumble spiritually and compromise the doctrines of true Christianity. The Bible reveals that not only can false teachers cause people to stumble; so also can trials, tribulations, persecutions (Matthew 13:21) and poor examples (1 Corinthians 8:9). Some will even stumble over the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ (Malachi 2:8; 1 Corinthians 1:23).

The Pergamos Christians fell under the influences of intellectual sophistication, human reason and the desire to be progressive... all of these desires, while seemly good on the surface, often lead to abandoning and compromising fundamental biblical truth. The lesson of Pergamos is strongly pointed: Do not tolerate false teachings or those who promote them—compromise causes people to stumble. Christians must stand for the Truth alone. This advice is particularly appropriate for the Church today!

Thyatira: The Corrupt Church

Thyatira was an inland city located on a major trade route. It was a commercial center with many trade guilds, and was the home of a Roman military garrison. Its patron deity was a warrior goddess. To participate in the local economy would have required membership in trade guilds that sponsored idolatrous annual festivals—thus putting pressure on Christians to compromise to fit in, and literally to get and keep employment or sell goods. 

The lesson of Thyatira is blunt: Do not pretend to go along with false teachings for appearance's sake—do not compromise the Truth, do not go back into ways you have been called out of or you will suffer tribulation. Scripture contains very graphic warnings about this (see Deuteronomy 12:29–31; Jeremiah 10:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; 2 Peter 2:18–22). We are specifically warned that at the end of the age, many professing Christians will be "deluded" into accepting false but fashionable religious beliefs, because they did not know the Truth, or were willing to compromise the Truth they once knew to get some form of personal gain or acceptance (2 Thessalonians 2:1–13). Paul's message rings clear, to "stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught" (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Spiritual compromise leads to spiritual corruption. It happened in the first century, it is happening today—and truth loving Christians need to be alert!

Sardis: The Dead Church

Only a few comments are made about Sardis, a city once famous for arts, crafts and wealth. The main description of the Sardis congregation... is that it was a dead church (Revelation 3:1). The lesson of Sardis is sobering: Do not let the Truth die—hold on to the Truth you have been given; bear fruit with this precious Truth, or be blotted out of the Book of Life!  Sadly, Scripture indicates that despite these strong warnings, many believers at the end of the age will "turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4:4). Isaiah wrote of a time before Christ returns when Truth will be "fallen in the street" (Isaiah 59:14). The cost will be high if we let the Truth die, failing to learn from the lessons of the Bible and history!

Philadelphia: Small but Faithful

In contrast to the other churches, Philadelphia was not a wealthy, sophisticated or influential city. Located on an easily defended hill beside a major highway, it functioned as an outpost for spreading Greek and Roman culture (and later Christianity) to the surrounding region. The city was destroyed several times by earthquakes, but each time was rebuilt. It still exists today. Its name means "brotherly love." 

God commends this small church for its persistence in fulfilling its mission, and for holding on, without compromise, to His precious Truth (Revelation 3:7–8). For faithfully doing a Work and holding onto the Truth, Philadelphian Christians are promised protection from the coming Tribulation (Revelation 3:10).  The lesson of Philadelphia is simple: Remain faithful to Truth—do the work of preaching the Gospel, love the brethren and let no one take your crown. We cannot afford to "drop the ball" at this vital moment of history. Our salvation and our reward are at stake if we do!

Laodecia: Lukewarm and Laid-Back

Laodecia is a study in contrasts. From history, we learn that Laodecia was a proud and prosperous city, yet it played only a minor role in the spread of Greek culture. Laodicea was a banking center with a strong sense of independence. This independent attitude is reflected in its name, which in Greek means "the people decide" or "the people judge" (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). The Laodecian church is a description of the condition of the Church  just before the return of Jesus Christ. It is not a pretty picture. 

The charge against the Laodecians is their lukewarm attitude (Revelation 3:16). Their wealth and prosperity fosters an attitude of worldliness. They are lukewarm about the Truth, obedience to the commandments and their mission to preach the Gospel. They are very independent, and have "need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). Laodecia had a medical school noted for its eye-salve, yet the Bible describes its people as blind to their own spiritual condition. Intellectual "sophistication" prevented them from seeing their own lack of spiritual discernment. Laodecians produced fine black wool clothing, yet the Bible calls them naked, in need of white garments (Revelation 3:17–18). In a sense, the Laodecians lack vital pieces of spiritual armor—faith, love, perseverance, commitment to the Truth and godly fear of disobeying God's commandments. They were failing to use the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:10–19) to stand firm in times of trial and preach the Gospel with boldness.

The picture of Laodecia is of a sophisticated and self-sufficient church that trusts in its own wealth, numbers and wisdom. It appears strong, stable and unified, but it is internally divided. Its independent-minded people unknowingly reject the leadership of Jesus Christ while they do their own thing. The "democratic" (people-deciding) aspects of the Laodecian church tainted their decisions about doctrine, organization, governance, mission and methods.  The lesson of Laodecia is urgent: Wake up before it is too late, and ask God to open your eyes to see your own spiritual condition—repent of complacency, compromise, materialism and stubborn independence; respond to the leadership of Jesus Christ!  Your reward hangs in the balance!

The letters to the seven churches contain important lessons for anyone who calls themselves a Christian and who assembles with other believers in congregational fellowship. 

If we heed these lessons, we will gain “the promise” from Jesus Christ – eternal life. John advised all seven churches: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:22). 

Do we understand how the lessons of the seven churches apply to each of us today?  I know a preacher who does.  He stands up everyday through good times and tough times for Truth and urges the flock he cares for to consider their spiritual condition.  He doesn’t mince words when it comes to what must be done to be in favor with the head of the Church... our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you have 48 minutes you want to devote to growing spiritually today... then use these LINKS and listen to a recent sermon he preached at BuxMont Christian Church... a suburban congregation in the shadow of Philadelphia –– Pennsylvania not Asia Minor.

A BOLD SERMON preached on behalf of our Lord... 

Direct link to the MP3 file 

http://www.buxmontchristian.com/media/sermons/2014/01/14010502.MP3

BuxMont Christian Church Home Page...

http://www.buxmontchristian.com/

A BOLD PREACHER’S Blog:  http://fromapreacher.wordpress.com

_________________________________

Speak Softly... Forget the Big Stick!

Based on the actions and attitudes of many in our societies today, it seems that people like to bicker, argue and fight with one another about most anything.  There is a lot of  the “my way or else” attitude permeating interpersonal relations these days.  The media is filled daily with reports of confrontations among people of all walks of life from neighborhoods to governments bickering and outright fighting with one another.  It would seem the mantra of our age is to Speak Softly and carry a Big Stick... a slogan that implies the tactic of caution and non-aggression, but backed up by the ability to force your will on others through threats, intimidation and even violence if necessary.  

The widespread use of 'Speak Softly and carry a Big Stick' began with Teddy Roosevelt. In a letter written by him in 1900, a year before he became president, Mr. Roosevelt said... "I have always been fond of the West African proverb: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.''  President Roosevelt used the phrase to summarize his attitude towards foreign relations... it suggests that you do not need to be a bully, loud, aggressive or confrontational (speak softly) but you might need the capability to defend yourself and what you believe if you need to (carry a big stick).  Good ‘ol Teddy preferred the “stick” to soft words... as his aggressive attitudes about most everything defined what is known to this day as the “bully pulpit” –– a way of pounding those that don’t agree with you into submission. 

Since then, the phrase has been widely embraced in what seems to be the beloved sport of human confrontation.  It’s a way to warn your opponent,  those who aren’t doing what you want, that “you carry a big stick” implying that you will resort to acts of intimidation and even threats of violence to get your way.  “See things from my point of view, do things my way... or else I’ll punish you!”

That’s not the way people should conduct interpersonal relationships.  The Bible, offers us a very different take on speak softly and carry a big stick with these words...

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:17-18

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  Romans 14:19

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.  See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;… Hebrews 12:14-15

Wise counsel indeed for living at peace in the midst of a fallen world where “might and strength” are held in high esteem and “humility and giving in” are viewed as characteristics of weakness. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans strongly exhorted: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody" (Rom. 12:17). Paul places this responsibility squarely on each one us when he says: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

Christians should strive to "live at peace with everyone."  However, Paul does acknowledge that “living at peace” cannot always be done with everyone in this fallen world. He says: "If it is possible..." Paul is conceding that a failure at peace is not necessarily the fault of the Christian. There are times when it is not possible to keep peace because to do so would be inconsistent with following God's commands. For example, we should not, for the sake of peace, sacrifice purity. James tells us that "wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving" (James 3:17). So, if keeping peace requires that we explicitly approve of someone else's sin, we should choose purity over peace. We should keep the peace as long as it is consistent with God's higher laws, without compromising purity and truth.

There are times when peace is not possible because the other party is just not willing to live at peace. Sometimes, our service for God, in itself, can inadvertently cause dispute and unrest. Witnessing for Christ can ruffle feathers. Living for Christ can cause resentment. Love for God can bring strife. At such times, peace efforts may fail. When it does, though, let the failure be on the part of those, who for some reason, are offended by Christ.  In such circumstances, the better way will be... “speak softly and walk way” so as to preserve an opportunity to continue presenting yourself as an example of  “salt and light” to argumentative and combative people.   A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

You can always walk away.  You can doo whatever it takes to avoid confrontation that leads to bickering and dissension.   Christians and peace should be constant companions, as Paul says, "as far as it depends on you." You are to "seek peace and pursue it" (I Peter 3:11). This means going out of your way to keep the peace. It means swallowing your pride and letting someone else have the last word. It means conceding your rights, at times, as Abraham did in avoiding conflict with Lot (Genesis 13:8-9). It means planning ahead in order to avoid contentious situations. It means controlling your temper, putting off arguments, waiting until you cool off before dealing with controversy, and not dwelling upon wrongs done to you.  

Unfortunately, many Christians are argumentative, disputing everything. Christians, for some reason, find cause to bicker over every aspect of Christian doctrine, heatedly stating their earthly opinions about heavenly things. It seems that they would rather argue the fine points of theology than to edify each other and bring each other into a deeper knowledge of God. Christians, as well, are notorious these days for arguing politics, forcefully declaring how they feel the nation should be run. Why do we (citizens of heaven, cf. Phil. 3:20) get so heated up about the affairs of men? Sadly, Christians at large are not at peace with others, largely by our own fault. And failure at peace will usually be to the detriment of the unsaved, because strife leads to rejection of the gospel by those who desperately need to hear it from gentle Christians who can hold their opinions and tempers.

So, in the midst of our many spiritual battles, we are to do our best to live at peace with everyone. We are to peaceably wage our spiritual warfare. Indeed, it is largely through peace that we can win the spiritual war.

Today, l challenge you to embrace and learn to live everyday with, “as far as it depends on you”  at the forefront of your interpersonal relationships.  Don’t expect anything in return from another person... just simply go forward where “it is possible” and let the love of Christ in you, seep into their perspective of you and your relationships. Today, choose to live at peace with everyone! (Even if they bug the heck out of you!)

New Year's Resolutions –– A Godly-Christian Perspective

The new year is here and many, if not all of us, want to improve ourselves by making small to large changes in our lives, typically staring with an activity and/or attitude adjustment.  Hence, the New Year’s resolution.  

The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st, or 2nd or 31st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st that enables you to make changes in your life. 

The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s resolutions can be commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating a more healthy diet.  These are all good goals to consider.  However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical improvement. Maybe that’s not where our focus should be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God, bolster your faith and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself or impress someone?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has a chance for success, depending on your commitment to it.  Your attitude is critical in any hoped for change.  

It’s probably not worth bothering with resolutions if you start out assuming you’re going to fail — because that’s exactly what you’ll end up doing.  Make sure your resolutions are realistic. Many New Year’s resolutions aren’t “resolutions” at all; they’re only vague dreams or wishes. Don’t focus on self-centered goals; focus instead on what God wants to do in your life. Above all, make sure of your commitment to Christ — and if He means little to you, why not begin the new year by giving “all” of your life to Him?

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Above all resolutions you can make... resolve to become more and more like Christ during the coming year.  The above six specifics can help you on your journey to Christian maturity.

This, after all, is God’s will for every one of His followers. The Bible says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Every day we are tempted to forget God and live for ourselves, but God’s will is for us to become more and more like His Son. And this happens as we stay close to Christ and allow His Spirit to change us and renew us from within. When we submit our hearts and lives to Christ, the Bible says we will be “transformed into his likeness … which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

What does it mean to be like Christ? First, it means to be like Him in His behavior–rejecting sin, living pure and godly lives, and sharing His love with others. It also means to be like Him in our character–in love and peace and patience, and in all the other fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

For all Christians, the start of a new year is a good time to stop and look at our lives — and that’s the first step in making any realistic resolutions. What needs to be improved in our lives? What needs to be eliminated — or added? Most of all, what does God see when He looks at me, and what does He want me to do — with His help?   The Bible says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

GROW and PROSPER in the Lord... in 2014!