Preparing for His Appearing

“The Current Financial Crisis – Are We Trapped?” The title of the breakout session at the men’s conference I was attending jumped out from the page of seminar choices. Although the breakout session had been planned for months, the topic had taken on even greater significance just that week. It was September 20, 2008, and as we met in the gymnasium of the local boarding academy, the United States Congress was meeting in the Capitol Building to plan an emergency bailout package. The previous week had seen the collapse of Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers, the buyout of Merrill Lynch, and the plunge of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

I decided to go to the breakout. Through an hour-long presentation, the answer to the seminar title’s question, “Are We Trapped?” became increasingly clear. “Yes.” However, the question that was most important to me had not been answered in the session. It was clear that there was a serious crisis before us, and that a global economic crisis could rapidly lead to the fulfillment of Revelation 13’s prophecy “that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast”. But my question was, What should I do right now to prepare for the coming crisis?

Jesus told His disciples that there would be a time of great crisis before His second coming. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). So the crisis is coming, and the question is, how do we prepare for this troubling time at the end of earth’s history?

Should I be starting to stockpile provisions in a mountain cabin somewhere? Do I need to diligently track every movement of political and religious leaders, looking for evidence of the end? Will understanding the secret plots of all the conspiracy theories ensure I will be ready when that day comes?

Sometimes thinking about all of the turmoil ahead can make you want to run away and hide in a cave somewhere. Jesus predicted that seeing the signs of His soon return would fill men with fear. “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25,26).

So what did He say to do when we began seeing these signs fulfilled? Did He say to run away? Did He say to look around at all the distress on the earth? No, He said, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). His directions for preparation are, “look up and lift up your heads”, for I am drawing near.

When we see the signs of Jesus coming, it is time to really look to Jesus. When we focus on Him, our hearts will become like Paul’s – eager for Jesus’ return. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ...” (Philippians 3:20).

Eagerly anticipating Jesus coming isn’t just a nice escape for those who don’t want to think about the serious realities of the end times. In fact, Paul says that all who will receive Christ’s reward on the day He comes again will “love his appearing”. “Finally 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 appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

We don’t need to start saying, “Okay, so if I want to get the crown, I need to start loving His appearing.” Loving His appearing is not another character trait to be fabricated by our efforts. How you feel about His return is a reflection of what is really happening in your heart toward Jesus. There is a natural relationship between loving Jesus, and loving the fact that He is coming back.

Love for Jesus is the common character trait of all who receive that crown Jesus has promised. The most essential preparation for the days ahead of us is a heart that is truly in love with Jesus. “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

He’s coming soon, and I’m loving that thought more and more every day. Don’t you want to fall more in love with Jesus too?