Thanks for joining us on this journey of building a consistent habit of reading our Bibles every day. The Bible reading plan we are using this year can be found here: One Year Bible or here on the Bible app. As always, if you miss a day, don’t feel compelled to go back and catch up. Just skip it and start back on today’s date. I am reading the NLT this year, but feel free to use whatever version you prefer. Now here are some thoughts from today’s readings:
I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place.
– Mark 13:30
No one knows the hour of the Lord’s return. Jesus said that this generation wouldn’t pass away until He had returned. What did He mean by this generation? Because the “generation” He was talking to passed away and Christ hasn’t returned yet. So, did Jesus tell a little fib? I don’t thinks so. I believe by “generation” He was speaking of the Church age, which we are still in.
At the end of this chapter in Mark, He warns us all to be on alert! Every generation since Christ has believed they were the generation where He would return, so it’s easy to lose our alertness, but we mustn’t! We must fight to stay on guard, making every decision in life based on the thought that the Lord could return at any moment and we want to be caught giving Him our best! This shouldn’t be done in a legalistic way, though. Imagine the love of your life was returning from a long trip. You missed him or her so much, and, though your don’t exactly when they will get back, you joyously continue to get things ready for them. That should be the posture of every believer.
Are we living in the last day? I think so. But I wouldn’t be the first to erroneously think so and I might wouldn’t be the last. I’ve heard it said that we should live like Christ is returning today but plan like He won’t come for 100 years. That’s good advice. Either way, we should always keep our physical eyes focused on what we can do for and with God in the present, while setting the eyes of our hearts on the great day of Christ’s return.
How would your life be different if you knew Christ was returning tomorrow? What should you do so your life more closely reflects that?