I have posted a copy of my booklet, 24 Hours till Jesus Comes. I usually give them away or leave a few behind wherever I go. The book asks the question, What would you do if you knew that Jesus would return in exactly 24 hours from right now? Feel free to share/distribute as you see fit. 24 Hours Till Jesus Comes 24 Hours till Jesus Comes Copyright © 2011 Michael Seay All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission by the author. ISBN 978-1-60458-760-9 All Scripture quotations in this book are from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV). Published by Instantpublisher Printed in the United States of America Preface What if you knew that Jesus was coming back tomorrow? If you were one hundred percent certain of his return within the next twenty-four hours, how would you react? The purpose of this book is to cause you to consider your life and see whether you are truly ready for Christ’s return. It is my hope that you will endeavor to live a life pleasing to the Lord and bring glory to His name. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night… - 2 Peter 3:10 As part of my routine, I double-check the doors of my house before retiring to bed. I also check my windows periodically to be certain they are locked. And within a few weeks, a security system will be installed at my home. With break-ins on the rise, safety is on my mind more than ever. I want to fall asleep knowing that I have taken reasonable steps to deter a thief from entering my home. I want to know my family is safe. I go through the steps of checking the doors without fail because a thief my show up at any time. And I don’t want to be caught off guard or make it easier for them through carelessness on my part. If a thief announced his/her intent to break into my house, I would be there waiting on them. But since the element of surprise increases their chance of success, their plans are rarely shared. Therefore, I must continue to take the necessary precautions; I must stick with my routine checks. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (2 Pet. 3:10). The best deadbolt locks on the market won’t be able to stop him when he shows up. Nor will the most high tech security system, with the company’s service sign visibly posted in the yard, put off his entrance onto the scene. Calling 9-1-1 won’t be an option on that day either. Although not a thief, his appearance will happen in the same fashion as a thief in the night. He will show up when you least expect it. As recorded in Luke 12:39, if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. As I mentioned earlier, thieves don’t make a habit of announcing their plans to break into your home. But the bible plainly states that Jesus is coming. Since no one knows the day or hour of his return, there is no way to prepare for the exact moment he will arrive. Our only option is to be prepared at all times. A few days ago a thought came to mind: What if I knew the day and hour Jesus would return? What if he was scheduled to come back in exactly twenty-four hours from right now? And what if I were the only person who knew about it? What would I do? So I thought about how I’d spend my last twenty-four hours before his arrival, and determined to list ten things I would do. Over the years I’ve put together a short list of things I want to do in my lifetime. High on the list is to travel to Spain again or to take a road trip with family and friends – either from coast-to-coast or to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for fun-filled days of shopping at the West Edmonton mall. I do not particularly care for shopping, but would enjoy the time together with loved ones. I have had these, among others, listed for years but none would make it to my new list. Knowing there is so little time remaining makes the truly important items stand out. Without question, my first order of business would be to ask forgiveness for my sins. Then I would work to resolve old hurts I have caused others and those others have caused me. In addition, I would spend as much time as possible with my family and friends. This is how I would spend my last 1,440 minutes. I then wondered how I would go about it all. Would I try to call them for a get-together at my house? Or would I drive from house to house to see them individually? What about those who live in other cities across the country? How would I reach them all? (While trying to map out my steps, I realized I had spent precious time figuring out what to do and how to do it. If this were real, I wouldn’t have the luxury of sitting with a cup of coffee and carefully coming up with a plan. What if the clock literally started ticking from the moment the question first entered my mind?) Once I reached them, what would I talk about? First, I would bring up old times (good/bad depending on the person). And then I would bring up salvation and the need to forgive one another. I would do everything possible to make sure their (our) relationship with the Lord is solid. If it were real, I am sure as each minute ticked away, the fervency of my efforts would increase. I would work to persuade all to turn to the Lord until the very last second expired. So what would you do? If you were 100 percent certain that Jesus was coming back tomorrow, what would you do differently today? If no one else were privy to this information but you, how would you handle it? - Would you continue to be rude to others or treat them with kindness? - Would you continue in that relationship with another man’s wife or another woman’s husband? - Would you continue to engage in premarital contact? - Would you admit that 1) on the 6th day of creation God made man in his image and likeness, 2) sin entered the world (us) after creation through the act of Adam and Eve, thus causing all to be born with a sinful nature, 3) or would you continue to live ungodly and claim that “God made you this way”? - Would you continue to tell lies or would you tell the truth? - Would you apologize to those you’ve wronged, or keep telling yourself they deserved it? - Would you confess your sins before God and ask forgiveness or go on as if you haven’t done anything wrong? - Would you forgive that person for mistreating you or refuse to loosen your grip on that grudge? - Would your top priority be to make more money or would you share what you have? - Would you pass by someone in need or would you offer assistance? - Would you be jealous of what someone else has or would you be thankful for what you have? - Would you spend quality time with your children, spouse, and family or would you still be too busy? - Would you still be concerned with your outer appearance (and if you’re dressed in the latest fashion) or would you want your heart to be clean? - Would you put off sharing the good news of Jesus Christ or would you shout it from the rooftops? What would you do? Use the next few moments to list your thoughts. How many items are on your list? After I made my list it all became clearer to me. The things on my list were the things I should be doing every day. If spending time with family and friends and discussing the Lord with them would be my focus in the last 24 hours, why haven’t I put forth more effort into doing it thus far? If resolving old issues with others would warrant time on the last day, why wasn’t it important on yesterday? If having a better attitude or lending a hand matters on that day, shouldn’t it matter every day? I should live my life expecting Jesus to appear at any time! We live as if we have unlimited time. We go about the day thinking about what we are going to do for lunch or what we’re going to cook for dinner. We spend time thinking about homework with the kids and going to the gym. We think about many things but rarely give thought that this could be our last day. Jesus, the Son of God, could come knocking within the next twenty-four hours. (Or we may take our last breath due to an accident, illness, or natural causes.) Going forward, we must put forth every effort to please God. We can’t be so entangled in our daily activities that we overlook the things that are important to our Father. We must live according to the word of God and let him guide our decisions and actions. So whether Jesus appears within twenty-four hours, next week, or ten years from now, we can have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming (1 John 2:28). Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matthew 24:36-39 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Luke 12:35-40 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Hebrews 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. James 5:8-9 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 2 Peter 3:10-14 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 04:16:55 +0000
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