Are you looking forward to the day when Christ returns? Does the thought of Jesus coming back at any moment cause your heart to leap with excitement? Or does it sink with dread? I think your response is a good litmus test of your spiritual character.
If your life is right with God, then I think youโll welcome it when you hear that Christ could come back at any moment. You will rejoice in it. Like the apostle John, you will say as he did, โEven so, come, Lord Jesus!โ (Revelation 22:20)
Writing to Timothy, the apostle Paul described those who were looking forward with great anticipation to the return of Jesus Christ. He was speaking of believers who are leading lives that are right before God, believers who are living lives that are honoring to Godโbelievers who are ready for the return of Christ.
If that describes you, then the promise that was given to Paul is for you as well: โFinally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearingโ (2 Timothy 4:8).
Do you love His appearing? By that I mean, are you truly ready for the Lordโs return? If so, it will impact the way you live. Weโre told in 1 John 3:3, โAnd everyone who has this hope in Him [the hope of Christโs return] purifies himself, just as He is pure.โ This simply means that youโre living a life that is right. Youโre prepared. Youโre looking forward with anticipation to the return of Jesus Christ.
If youโre living that way, then God promises you a crown of righteousness in that final day.
