Living Today in Light of Christ's Return

Aug 16, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Certainty of the Bridegroom’s Return

Jesus’ promise to return is as fixed as a groom’s vow to his bride. His words in John 14 are not wishful thinking but a covenant anchored in prophetic history. Over 300 Old Testament prophecies about His first coming were fulfilled with precision, proving God’s faithfulness. The same reliability applies to His promise to come again. Just as a bride prepares for her wedding day, believers live in expectant readiness, knowing His arrival is inevitable. Every fulfilled prophecy is a stone in the foundation of our confidence. [03:31]

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
(John 14:1–3, ESV)

Reflection: What practical step can you take today to live with the same anticipation as a bride awaiting her groom? How does Jesus’ track record of fulfilled promises strengthen your trust in His return?

Day 2: Sudden Arrival in the Field

Jesus’ return will interrupt ordinary moments—work, meals, routines—like a thief in the night. He warned that many will be caught unprepared, like those swept away in Noah’s flood while preoccupied with daily life. The call to “keep watch” (gregareo) is urgent, demanding active vigilance. This isn’t about fear but a sober awareness that eternity could break into the mundane at any moment. Living ready means aligning priorities with what lasts beyond the temporal. [20:20]

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
(Matthew 24:36–39, ESV)

Reflection: Where has complacency crept into your routines? What “ordinary” part of your day could become an opportunity to cultivate eternal awareness?

Day 3: Oil in the Lamp, Garments Prepared

The wise virgins in Jesus’ parable didn’t just wait—they maintained their lamps. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit’s sustaining presence; clean garments reflect a life purified through obedience. Preparation isn’t a one-time event but daily faithfulness. Like the bride who kept her dress ready and her lamp trimmed, believers nourish their spirits through prayer, Scripture, and repentance. A life lived for that day requires intentional investment in what fuels endurance. [23:20]

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.”
(Matthew 25:1–4, ESV)

Reflection: What habits are you cultivating to keep your “lamp” burning? How does your daily choices reflect a heart dressed in readiness for the Bridegroom?

Day 4: The Weight of the Bema Seat

Every believer will stand before Christ’s judgment seat to account for their stewardship of time, gifts, and resources. This isn’t about salvation but reward—a sobering audit of how we used our earthly assignment. The trivial pursuits we chase now will fade, while eternal investments in people and God’s kingdom endure. Living with that day in mind reshapes what we value, spend, and sacrifice today. [28:41]

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
(2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)

Reflection: What current investment of your time or resources will matter most in that moment? What distraction might you need to release to focus on eternal priorities?

Day 5: Face to Face with the Soon-Coming King

The climax of history isn’t a theological concept but a relational reunion. Jesus longs to look His people in the eye and say, “Well done.” The vision of multitudes around the throne—saved, redeemed, and radiant—fuels urgency for evangelism. Every prayer, conversation, and act of love matters. To see Him face to face is the hope that turns duty into delight and sacrifice into joy. [37:30]

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
(Revelation 22:20–21, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel so they can join the multitude around the throne? How does the promise of His “Well done” shape your courage to share Him today?

Sermon Summary

John 14 sets the table with Jesus at the Last Supper, speaking comfort that reaches beyond the 12 to every disciple until the day He returns. Jesus says, “I will come back again,” and that promise is not Christian folklore, religious escapism, or a “home in the sky” fantasy. Acts 17 and 2 Peter 3 name the reality clearly: scoffers will laugh, mock the truth, and follow their own desires. The fool, biblically, is the person who lives as though there is no accountability to God.

Eschatology may be full of charts, theories, and a whole lot of debate, but God has veiled much of the timing in mystery for a purpose. The wise posture works like Jesus will not return in a lifetime, but lives like He could come back tomorrow. Revelation 19 tears open the heavens and shows Jesus not as the silent Lamb being led to slaughter, but as Faithful and True, riding a white horse, wearing many crowns, and bearing the title King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus does not return to convince people that He is in charge. Paul’s word in Philippians says every knee will bow and every tongue confess.

The certainty of the return rests on the credibility of God keeping His promises. The 356 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus prove that not one word of the Lord falls to the ground. Psalm 22 even names the casting of lots for His garments, and John shows it happening at the cross. The same Holy Spirit gives hundreds of New Testament promises about the second coming and final judgment.

The return will also be sudden and unexpected. Matthew 24 compares it to the days of Noah, when people were eating, drinking, marrying, and carrying on until the flood came. Gregareo, the command to “keep watch,” means strict attention, active caution, and refusing the sleepy drift that lets calamity overtake a soul. The Jewish wedding picture shows the bridegroom coming at night, the trumpet sounding, the bride ready with clean garments and oil in her lamp.

God takes no delight in judging the wicked, but Christ longs to be reunited with His bride. The final reckoning makes eternity sober and real. The great white throne separates those who receive Christ from those who reject Him, and the judgment seat of Christ brings believers before Jesus to account for time, talent, treasure, motives, goals, and opportunities. Romans 10 keeps the invitation plain: believe in the heart, openly declare Jesus as Lord, and be saved until seeing Him face to face.

Key Takeaways

1. Certainty rests on God’s kept promises [17:11] The return of Jesus stands on the same faithfulness that brought every Messianic prophecy to pass. The cross was not an accident, and the second coming will not be a rumor that fades with time. A soul that sees God’s track record has no need to live in suspicion, only in sober confidence. [17:11]
2. Watchfulness is strict attention [20:20] The command to keep watch is not casual religious awareness. Gregareo means active caution, like a parent gripping a child’s hand at a dangerous crossing. A sleepy faith does not usually fall in one dramatic moment, but drifts through remission, distraction, and indolence until the day feels far away. [20:20]
3. The Bridegroom longs for His bride [24:36] The return of Christ is not only judgment on rebellion, but reunion with the people He loves. John 17 reveals desire in the heart of Jesus, not cold obligation. The bride’s readiness grows from beholding the Bridegroom, because clean garments and full lamps come from love, not panic. [24:36]
4. Eternity weighs every stewardship [28:41] The judgment seat of Christ gives weight to ordinary days. Time, opportunities, abilities, motives, and resources are not disposable details, but entrusted gifts. Much that feels urgent will not matter there, while hidden obedience and faithful stewardship will be seen clearly by the King. [28:41]
5. Confession prepares a face-to-face meeting [35:01] Romans 10 makes salvation plain without making it shallow. Believing in the heart and openly declaring Jesus as Lord is not performance, but surrender to the risen Christ. The goal is not a raised hand alone, but a life that follows Him all the way until seeing Him face to face.

## [35:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:47] - House of the Lord in Old Town
[01:58] - Living This Day in Light of That Day
[02:36] - Jesus Promises to Come Back
[04:14] - Scoffers and Religious Escapism
[06:44] - A Biblical Definition of a Fool
[07:52] - Mystery, Eschatology, and Pantheology
[11:14] - The King Returns Differently
[14:07] - The Return Is Prophetically Certain
[18:40] - The Return Will Be Sudden
[21:57] - The Bridegroom and the Ready Bride
[25:22] - Every Person Gives an Account
[31:45] - A Vision Around the Throne
[35:01] - Believe, Confess, and Be Saved
[37:14] - Surely I Am Coming Soon

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” [02:36] [03:09]

Revelation 19:11-16
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” [11:14] [12:01]

Matthew 24:36-44
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” [18:40] [19:50]

2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” [25:22] [28:25]

Romans 10:9-10
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” [32:36] [35:01]

Observation questions

In John 14:1-3, what two things does Jesus say He is doing for His people, and what result does He promise in the end?
In Revelation 19:11-16, what names, images, and actions describe Jesus when He returns? [12:01]
In Matthew 24:36-44, what was ordinary about life in the days of Noah, and what made the flood such a strong picture of Christ’s return? [19:50]
In 2 Corinthians 5:10, what kinds of things will be brought into account before the judgment seat of Christ? [28:41]

Interpretation questions

Jesus says, “I will come again” in John 14. Why does that promise bring comfort instead of fear for those who belong to Him?
Revelation 19 shows Jesus returning not in weakness but in open authority. How does that picture correct smaller or softer ideas people may have about who Jesus is? [12:55]
Matthew 24 says people were carrying on with normal life until judgment came. What does that suggest about the danger of spiritual drift and the false comfort of assuming there will always be more time? [20:20]
Romans 10:9-10 joins heart-belief and open confession. Why is it important that saving faith is not treated as a private opinion only, but as a surrender to Jesus as Lord? [35:01]

Application questions

Jesus told His people not to let their hearts be troubled because He is preparing a place and will come again. Where has trouble, fear, or distraction been crowding out that comfort in real life lately? What would it look like to take Him at His word this week?
The wise posture works, plans, and serves faithfully, yet stays ready as if Jesus could return tomorrow. Which side is harder right now: living faithfully over the long haul, or living watchfully with real urgency? [18:24]
“Keep watch” means strict attention, not sleepy religion. What tends to make a soul drowsy—busyness, entertainment, unconfessed sin, cynicism, discouragement, or something else? How can that drift be resisted in a practical way? [20:20]
Christ desires His bride and longs for reunion, not just judgment. Does the thought of His return stir more love, more fear, or more confusion in the heart right now? Why might that be? [24:36]
Every believer will give an account for time, opportunities, abilities, motives, and resources. Which of those areas feels most weighty right now? Where is there a need for fresh faithfulness? [28:41]
A great deal that feels urgent now will not matter then. What has been taking up a lot of emotional energy lately that may not carry eternal weight? What might need to be reordered? [28:44]
Believing in the heart and openly confessing Jesus as Lord prepares a person to see Him face to face. If someone asked today how to be ready for that day, how would that be answered from Romans 10:9-10—and has that confession become personal and clear in everyday life? [35:12]

Sermon Clips

51s

#FromLambToKing

“``Let your imagination just just be a gift right now. Because when Jesus was here the first time, he came humbly. He came as a servant. He came as a helpless infant that had to be raised and he was beaten before he went to the cross and he didn't fight back. He was spit on with no retaliation. He was accused yet he refused to defend himself. Isaiah said he was like a lamb that was led to the slaughtering block, but he opened not his mouth. And so, Jesus died a death of shame and reproach because he took our shame and he took our reproach and he was humble. But that's not the way he's coming back. It's a different version. He's returning as the king of kings and the lord of lords triumphant over every tribe and nation.”

52s

#PropheciesFulfilled

“I'm belaboring this to say this, not one word of the Lord would fall to the ground, that every promise is yes and amen to those who believe. And if he prophesied three fifty six times, the Messiah would come and live a sinless life, be born of a virgin, Die on a cross. Drink vinegar from a sponge. They throw dice for his clothes. That same Holy Spirit has given us three thirty promises and verses in the New Testament about Jesus' return and the final judgment. One in every 25 verses in your New Testament is about the second coming or the events that happen around the second coming. So I just want you to know this, be certain. There's no reason for doubt and skepticism.”

38s

#LiveReady

“Clarity is refreshing, isn't it? And not angry at people. It might come across that way. I I am angry at the work of the enemy in people's lives That tells him, you got time, this really doesn't matter, you keep doing your thing, but he'll come like a thief in the night. He'll come unexpectedly. Life is short, eternity is real, people matter. And he wants to look at you face to face and say, well done, my good and faithful servant.”

41s

#JudgmentSeatReality

“In light of eternity, so much doesn't matter. But here's what does matter. You've been uniquely gifted, you've been invested in, and it's foolishness to think that I'm just gonna float into heaven. Hey, your mansion's on 37 B up by the river of life, past the olive tree. God bless. Here's your welcome kit. It doesn't work like that. Each of us will stand before the judgment seat, the bema seat, Paul called it, which was the platform that the person in the Olympics would give the awards out to. And so he gave that visual to people who knew how serious that moment was.”

33s

#LongingForHeaven

“I won't mind living a long and healthy life as God gives me days. Enjoy every one of them. But I hope you got something in your spirit that says, I'm looking for a home that's not of this world, a kingdom that's coming. In Jesus' name, amen? And number three, when Jesus returns, we will all stand before him to give an account. This is what I want you to get in your spirit and in your mind, your imagination today because the wind for today is that you would live this day in light of that day.”

54s

#ReturnIsCertain

“Here we go. Number one, the return of Jesus is certain and prophetically inevitable. Certain and prophetically inevitable. What I mean by that is the prophetic inevitability of Jesus' return is based on the credibility of God keeping his promises. In the Old Testament, there are three fifty six prophecies about the coming Messiah. These prophecies were given by over 20 prophets over the space of twelve, thirteen hundred years. And here's the amazing thing, every one of those prophecies was fulfilled in the birth, the life, the death, the resurrection of Jesus. Every one of them. This has been proven, not just by, you know, sacred religious folks, but by scientists and those who've done the examination on every single prophecy.”

70s

#LiveForWellDone

“Somehow, in all my stumblings and bumblings and trying to figure out how to be a leader and a follower of Jesus, I got this deeply embedded in my spirit. And I've lived with this for generations, and here's what it is. I don't do what I do for a title or a paycheck or a career. I do what I do because I know I'm gonna stand before him on that day. And he's gonna say, Dave, I gave you a gift of leadership. I gave you a fivefold gift of pastoring. I gave you resources, and I will give an account on that day, and so will you. And if you get that, I'm not trying to be heavy, I'm not trying to scare anybody, just trying to bring the word of God today. Because if you'll get this and you'll live in this moment, it will change the way you think, it'll change the way you live, it'll change the way you give, It'll change the way you serve. And you will invest your time knowing one day I'm gonna stand before the Lord, and I want him to look me in the eye and say, well done, good and faithful. Servant, this matters more than anything.”

81s

#WatchfulBride

“the bride wasn't just like, you know, outdating other people or casual about this or I don't know if he'll ever come back. She's like, well, when he gets there, I'll throw a bag together. You know what she was doing? She'd prepared her garments. Her wedding dress was hung up. Her bride, bridesmaids were ready to go. There was oil in her lamp because the bridegroom would come at night. Oil in the lamp, garments are clean, she's lived in purity. And what happened was, after a few months, the anticipation began to grow. And she thought, any day now, any day now, my bridegroom will come. And sure enough, one night he would come in with his bridal party. And as they came into town, there would be celebration and people would blow the trumpet or the shofar. And all of those images that Jesus took from the Jewish wedding is exactly what he said the coming of the Son of Man would be like. So keep watch. Are we living with an anticipation like the bride that says, Lord, it could be today. I wanna see you face to face. I long for heaven. And perhaps if you don't have that in your spirit, spend more time in his word, more time in his presence, more time beholding him. I believe God will give you a holy spirit desire to be with your king, and you can watch for his return.”

37s

#ExpectHisSuddenReturn

“And I'm not casting days, but the word says that we will know the season. So if you just look at the earthquakes that took place this week, go home and give Matthew chapter 24 a slow read one more time, and you'll know that we are in the end of the end times. I think that's accurate, but at the same time, what are we doing? We're living and working like Jesus will not return in our lifetime, yet living our lives like he'll be back tomorrow. Amen? The second thing I want you to know is Jesus' return will be sudden and unexpected. So live ready.”

65s

#SayYesToJesus

“And every time when I pray that prayer, I flash back to that desperate moment back by the dumpsters behind the Peabody Building with my head on the steering wheel saying, God, can I do this anymore? And he showed me, Dave, in light of eternity, here's what we're all about. As many people as possible, believing in the risen Christ, lifting their hand and following Jesus, and saying, I I can't wait to see you face to face. And that confession, that prayer, well, there's just a a lot of people now online and Instagram that would bash churches that give people a chance to raise their hand and pray. Like, Dave, that's manipulation. And you're not gonna find that in the New Testament, a raising of hands. But it's pretty solid in the Bible that we need to believe, confess, and pray out. I'm unapologetic about giving people an opportunity to say yes to Jesus.”

50s

#AwakenForHisReturn

“first prayer is this, I'm gonna pray two prayers. My first prayer is this, that if you're a believer, a Christ follower, you have not been watching, that Greek word, if you've not been anticipating the return of your bridegroom, if there's not something in your heart that says, wanna see him and I'm living for eternity, if you've grown cold, today I wanna invite you to say, Jesus, let me have a clear vision of that day. Today, Jesus, awaken me to the brevity of the hour and the reality of your soon return. God, stir up our hearts to be passionate believers that know that we're living in the last of the last days. Father, I pray right now that you would awaken your church in the mighty name of Jesus.”

40s

#MysteryOfHisReturn

“And what I realized over forty years of studying is that God has veiled much of his return in mystery for a purpose. Yes, we are to study it, but great theologians and brilliant minds far smarter than me have been studying these subjects for decades and came up with different theories. For instance, and I'm not gonna go into the nuances of how will the church interact with the tribulation, the great tribulation. Will we be raptured or caught up before it takes place or in the middle or at the end? There's three big different worldviews of when the Christians will leave the planet.”

58s

#PropheciesDefyOdds

“Now, these 356 prophecies being fulfilled by one man, science has proven that it is mathematically impossible to estimate the odds or calculate the odds of that happening. But there's a book that was written back in the nineteen fifties by an astronomer and mathematician. He wrote the book Science Speaks. In 1958, his research team estimated the probability that one person could accidentally fulfill just eight of the Messianic prophecies in their lifetime, and the odds are one in 10 to the seventeenth power. I just want you to see that number because there might be one person in the room that could tell us what that number would be. But it's one in one hundred quadrillion. These are scientists and mathematicians saying one person accidentally fulfilling just eight of the three fifty six prophecies.”

53s

#BetrothalIllustration

“The man would come, travel to a different village or side of the town, and he would propose, but it was a betrothal. A betrothal is much stronger than a proposal because you don't give to give back the ring and break up and give back the sweater. It was a covenant that was made with the family over a glass of wine. It was a covenant meal and everyone considered this couple married legally and before God in that moment. But they didn't consummate the marriage or have a wedding feast. The husband went away for months, even up to a year. And during that time, he would go back to his father's house in that village, and he would build a dwelling place in the compound or near or on his father's house property. And when it was time, the father would tell the son, all things are ready. And the son would go back to the other village to get his bride.”

52s

#RaisedHandsAtThrone

“And in that moment, the Lord was gracious enough to give me a vision. And this vision, I could see people, a multitude around the throne. And when I say a vision, let me clarify that. It wasn't like, you know, an LED screen on my dashboard, open eyed vision. God uses your imagination. It can be a weapon of your warfare. But in my mind's eye and my spirit immediately, I saw a multitude around the throne hands raised. And I knew intuitively by the Holy Spirit that the people who just raised their hand in that multitude of worshipers. And the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart. He said, Dave, the people that just prayed that prayer, they will see me face to face, and they'll be ready.”

38s

#KingOfKingsReturns

“But that's not Bible, is it? What it's saying is that when the king of kings and the lord of lords appears on a white horse, that all of humanity, every principality and power will have no response but to fall to their knees and look up and say, he is the king of kings and the lord of lords. This is the way that he is coming back. Amen? So what I wanna do is I wanna give you three essential doctrinal foundations for your personal eschatology, all right? Yep, for that, you note takers. You're like, Dave, it's my first time to church. Well, you're gonna build an eschatology. Look at you.”

58s

#KeepWatchAlways

“Jesus told you to Greg Reo to keep watch. It's like a parent. Okay, you're taking your kids to kindergarten or first grade and you're getting ready to go across the crosswalk and what do you do? You grab their hands and you tell them look both ways and keep watch. You're using this Greek word. You know, I was driving through town the other day and I saw my grandson, my oldest grandson driving the opposite direction by himself. Yeah. And he was texting and vaping and drinking a beer. I'm kidding. I'm kidding, Tasha. He was 10 and two. I straight ahead. And I want to roll down my window and say, Gregor El, you know. Keep watch lest through remission and ignorance some destructive calamity overtakes you.”

54s

#LiveInLightOfEternity

“And before I turn it over to the campus pastors in just a moment, I wanna urge you with everything that's in me. I wanna plead with you as Paul said. I wanna plead with you to live this day in light of that day, to understand the times that we're living in. If you were asleep, if you're in a spiritual coma, if you're like many people that will be in this building today that get up in the middle of this sermon and walk out those doors because they wanna get to brunch first or I'm tired of this sermon. Fools, according to the Bible. Not me. I'm not calling anybody a fool. to hear a message about the judgment of Christ and the second coming and go, you know, I just don't have time for the rest of this. What is that? You be the judge.”

56s

#NoEscapeFromJudgment

“And everyone will be there. The sea will give up their dead. The grave will give up their dead. There'll be new bodies glorified for heaven or hell. And we will stand before the God the God of all eternity and the God of all flesh. This is a real moment. You don't get to opt out. You don't get, oh, yeah, that's good for you Christians. I'm not I'm not participating in the judgment day. Oh, really? Yeah, I believe in evolution or, you know, I believe in reincarnation. I'm coming back as a butterfly. You know, or I'm into soul sleep and you know, dead like a dog, oh no, wait, all dogs. Dead like a cat, no, no, I'm sorry. Different sermon. What I'm saying is all the cults that have presented a different version other than the great white throne judgment are demonic and deceptive and an outright lie. So we have to understand it's inevitable.”

44s

#DontWaitForSigns

“The reason I want you to be clear on this point is because a lot of people are waiting for things to align before they get serious about their faith. It's amazing. This has happened to me a time and again. Every time something catastrophic happens or bombs drop in Israel like 10/07/2023, or the Twin Towers when those fell many years ago, I get texts and phone calls that day or the next day from the most random people that used to come to church are barely on the fringes. And here's the question, pastor Dave, is this it? Is this is this it? With panic in their voice, should I come back to church now?”

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