Christ Could Come at Any Moment...

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.” ~ 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, NKJV

Paul spends chapter seven of his first epistle to the Corinthians responding to certain things of which the Corinthians had written him, mostly concerning marriage. Marriage, as Paul explains, is good. But our fallen human nature means that marriage also brings trouble in the flesh (since each spouse is trying to live with another sinner), and all things being equal, it is easier for someone who is unmarried to serve the Lord without distraction. Paul's point in the passage above is that believers - whatever their state - need to be living for eternity. Since Jesus' ascension, the "time is short," that is, Christ could return for us at any moment. That was true in Paul's day and it remains true today. The constant imminency of His return is by design, so that is easier for us to see God's kingdom as near to us rather than planted somewhere in the vague, distant future. If we know His kingdom is near, we will be more concerned about heavenly priorities rather than being ensnared by the temporary cares of this world. A life lived for heaven is the best kind of life to have on earth. Are you married? Christ could come at any moment. Don't hang on your marriage those hopes and expectations that can only be fulfilled by God. Are you weeping? Christ could come at any moment and wipe all your tears away. Are you rejoicing? Christ could come at any moment. Rejoice, but don't stake your soul on human causes for celebration. Are you buying or investing? Christ could come at any moment. Don't assign those possessions too much value, or let them own you. Do you use this world? Christ could come at any moment. Use the world, but don't misuse it, inverting your priorities to care only about the things of this world and not the things of the world to come. The form of this world is passing away! When it goes, its cares, its sorrows, its cruelties, its valuables, its petty gratifications, and its priorities are all going to go with it. We will get more out of this world and we will be blessed in the next world if we live our lives with the Lord as our highest priority. Not even marriage is more important than He is. For the believer, the fact that this world is passing away brings comfort and hope. We see the evil that flourishes here. We see the pain and the sorrow and the corruption. We see death. But we look further ahead, to Christ's return and all that it will bring - the resurrection of the dead, the new heavens and the new earth, the fulfillment of our salvation, the casting of Satan into the lake of fire forever - and we rejoice with a joy that does not pass away.

by Rebecca...