TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025!

A Deep Reflection on Spiritual Readiness for Christ’s Return

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION:

TEXT: Matthew 24:32-42
THEME: Be Watchful, He Is Coming!

MESSAGE: BE WATCHFUL, HE IS COMING

The parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24 is one of the most poignant and urgent teachings of Jesus. In it, He draws a parallel between the natural world and the spiritual. Just as the budding of a fig tree is a clear and unmistakable sign that summer is near, the signs He outlined—wars, famines, earthquakes, and the persecution of believers—are indicators of His imminent return. The parable is a powerful call to spiritual alertness and discernment, urging us to recognize the signs of the times and to prepare our hearts for the coming of God’s Kingdom.

The problem, however, is that we often lack the wisdom to interpret spiritual signs even though we are experts at reading nature. We know when to bring out our umbrellas because we can read the darkening sky. We know when to wear our jackets because we can feel the shift in the wind. Yet, despite the clear, spiritual happenings around us, people continue to live in sin as if there will be no end. Some people do not even realize that a simple fever could lead to their early grave.

This raises a crucial question for each of us: How watchful are you, and what preparation are you making to safeguard your soul for eternity? We spend an inordinate amount of time and energy polishing and nourishing our physical bodies, which are destined to return to the dust and become food for worms. We invest in our careers, our homes, and our hobbies, but we neglect the one thing that will last forever: our soul.

The Gravity of Christ’s Imminent Return

When Jesus told His disciples that His generation would not pass away before the events He described came to pass, they may have taken it lightly. But the events of A.D. 70, when Jerusalem was sacked and the temple was destroyed, served as a grim and powerful fulfillment of His prophecy and a shadow of the final return to come. Jesus’ coming is not a joke; it is an imminent reality.

The reason a specific day and time are not fixed is not to make you live in fear, but to teach you that you cannot cheat God. God knows that if a date were set, some would wait until the last minute, repent on their deathbed, and hope for a last-ditch, “thief on the cross” salvation. But God’s desire is for us to enter heaven consciously, to plan for it, and to work for it. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared person.

We have many who want to reap where they did not sow. They want to inherit eternal life without putting in the spiritual work of repentance, faith, and obedience. This approach did not work in the time of Noah, and it will not work in our time. It took Noah 120 years of preaching and labor to build the ark of salvation. The people of his day ridiculed him and made light of his message, but when God commanded him to enter the ark and sealed the door, it was too late.

Jesus Christ is our Ark of salvation. Believe in Him and enter the Ark now while your mind is sound and your senses are functioning. Stop waiting for an “injury time” salvation. No one is telling you not to eat, drink, or enjoy life, but remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Be watchful, wait, and take the step of faith to prepare your heart and soul for eternity.

The Call to Be Ready

The key to being ready is simple: watch and pray. The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 is a powerful illustration of this. Five of the virgins were wise and prepared by keeping their lamps filled with oil, while five were foolish and were not ready when the bridegroom came. By the time they went to buy more oil, the bridegroom arrived, and the door was shut. The message is clear: the opportunity to be ready will not last forever.

As the song says, “When the Bridegroom cometh by and by, Will your lamps be burning bright, Will your robes be pure and white, When the Bridegroom cometh by and by?”

The second coming of Christ is a certainty. The only question is, will you be ready?

PRAYER

Dear Lord, please prepare me for the second coming of Jesus Christ so that I do not wait for a last-minute, ill-prepared salvation. Help me to be watchful, to live a life of righteousness, and to keep my lamp burning bright until You return, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: What does “watching” mean in the context of Christ’s return?

A: “Watching” means being spiritually alert and aware of the signs of the times. It means living in a constant state of readiness, as if Christ could return at any moment. It involves prayer, studying God’s Word, and living a life that is pleasing to Him.

Q2: What is the significance of the parable of the fig tree?

A: The parable of the fig tree is significant because it teaches us that just as we can read the signs of nature to know when seasons are changing, we should be able to read the spiritual signs of the times to know that Christ’s return is near.

Q3: Does the Bible give a specific date for Christ’s return?

A: No, the Bible explicitly states that no one knows the day or hour of Christ’s return, “not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36). The purpose of this is to keep believers in a constant state of readiness and prevent them from being complacent.

Question and Answer

Q1: What does the budding of a fig tree signal, according to the article?

A: The budding of a fig tree signals that summer is near, just as the signs Jesus described signal His return.

Q2: Why does the article say that a specific day and time are not fixed for Christ’s return?

A: The article says a specific day and time are not fixed so that we cannot cheat God by waiting until the last minute to repent and give our lives to Him.

Q3: What did people do to Noah’s message about the ark?

A: They made light of his message and made a caricature of his labor.

Q4: Who is the Ark of salvation, according to the article?

A: The article states that Jesus Christ is the Ark of salvation.