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Saturday night, we had a good meeting, with over 40 in attendance. Some were there for the first time. Bro Dale talked about the return of Christ and the conditions surrounding this event. Taking his text from Matthew Chapter 24, he titled his lesson “As It Was in the Days of Noah”. The actual return of Christ is not a predetermined date. No one (not even Christ) knows when that day will be, only the Father (Matt.24:36). Even then, that date is not fixed but will only be determined when certain conditions are met – conditions involving the world and the bride of Christ (the church). The bridegroom (Christ) won’t return until his bride is ready for him. He is coming back for a church, a bride, a people (all synonymous) that is without spot or wrinkle. Spots represent soil, contamination, or a less than perfect condition. Wrinkles are caused by sitting around too long and not up and busy with one’s duties. And as one brother has said, wrinkles are things that need to be ironed out! Until the church is busy with the Father’s business, sharing the love of God to those who have never heard, and free from divisions, carnalities and any other spots, we need not expect the Lord to return any time soon. If they will “awake and put on their strength” (Isa. 52:1) and fulfill the mission Christ has for us, we can actually speed up the return of Christ (2 Peter 3:12). Secondly, the return of Christ is based on conditions being met by the world. Verse 37 states that events surrounding Christ’s return will be “as it was in the days of Noah”, or a time when people are living selfishly to satisfy their sensual desires and lusts with no thought of God. Too much focus will be placed on the temporal part of life, which will one day pass away. As Jesus told his disciples in Matt 24:1, all this will one day be destroyed. He is not impressed with our big church buildings or other worldly accomplishments, but he is concerned about the quality of people who reside in those buildings. Let us not be caught up in the worldly rush, but instead watch for our Lord’s coming, ready for His return at anytime so that when He comes He will find us doing just what He told us. “Blessed is that servant whom His Lord when He cometh shall find so doing” (Matt. 24:46). May
He find me in my place
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