Responding to Jesus: Ready for His Return

Torrential rain pounded our house, and a thick finger of lightning flicked our back fence. It was the worst summer storm I'd ever seen as a boy, and I fearfully wondered: Is this the end of the age? Probably not, my parents patiently assured me. They were right. And once that storm had passed, I settled into a familiar pattern of not thinking about such things. any Christians are like this... prone to panic at life's unexpected storms, then quickly settling into a routine of spiritual complacency. In His Olivet Discourse, Jesus warned His first followers against either extreme: "These are the beginnings of sorrows... But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Mark 13:8, 13 (NKJV) Our Savior's prophetic words recorded in Mark's gospel were intended to bring His disciples hope and courage, not dread or pessimism. Mark's first readers –Christians in Rome under increasingly severe persecution –would have been calmed and strengthened to know their future was unfolding precisely as their Master had ordained. Still today, Jesus' prophetic words ought to awaken us to hopeful, steadfast service, knowing our Lord is returning in victory for us one day. Are you living toward this day?